Triglyceride Test

The triglyceride level test helps measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat, or lipid, found in the blood. The results of this test help your doctor determine your risk of developing heart disease. Another name for this test is a triacylglycerol test.

Also Known As:  TG, TRIG

Test Panel: Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, VLDL Cholesterol, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Why Get Tested:

1. This is done to evaluate the cases of atherosclerosis (Coronary artery disease).
2. This is done to evaluate the turbid serum (milky).
3. Triglyceride is part of lipid profile.
4. Triglyceride advised in a patient with suspected fat metabolism disorder.

When to get tested :

• Screening: as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile.
• when no risk factors for heart disease are present.
• once every four to six years in adults.
• children should have a lipid profile screening at least once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21.

Sample Required:

• This test is done on the serum.
• Fasting sample is preferred. Advised the patient to fast for 12 to 14 hours.
• This test can be done on plasma as well.
• Can store serum or plasma at 4 °C for 4 days (can keep for 5 to 7 days).

Normal Value:

• 40 to 160 mg /dL

Critical values are:

• Desirable = < 150 mg /dL.
• Borderline high = 150 to 199 mg /dL.
• High = 200 to 499 mg /dL.
• Very high = > 500 mg /dL.
• Critical value  >400 mg/dL

Increased Triglycerides values are seen in:

1. Hyperlipidemia.
2. Hyperlipoproteinemia.
3. Nephrotic syndrome.
4. Liver diseases.
5. Alcoholism (alcoholic cirrhosis).
6. Diabetes Mellitus, uncontrolled.
7. Glycogen storage disease (Von Gierke disease).
8. Familial hypertriglyceridemia.
9. Hypothyroidism.
10. Gout.
11. Anorexia nervosa.
12. Down’s syndrome.
13. Myocardial infarction.

Decreased Triglycerides level is seen in:

1. Malnutrition.
2. Hyperthyroidism.
3. Congenital α-β- lipoproteinemia.
4. Malabsorption.

Table showing the summary of characteristics of the lipoproteins

Characteristics	Chylomicron	HDL	LDL	VLDL
Size (diameter nm)	>70.0	4 to 10	19.6 to 22.7	25 to 70
Electrophoretic mobility	Origin	α – region	β – region	Pre – β region
Molecular weight	0.4 to 30 x 109	3.6 x 109	2.75 x 109	5 to 10 x 109
Synthesized in	Intestine	Intestine and liver	Intravascular	Liver and intestine
Composition by weight in %
Cholesterol esterified	5	38	49	11 to 14
Cholesterol unesterified	2	10	13	5 to 8
Triglycerides	84	9	11	44 to 60
Phospholipids	7	22	27	20 to 23
Proteins	2	21	23	4 to 11

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Possible References Used

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