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:
- This is done to evaluate the cases of atherosclerosis (Coronary artery disease).
- This is done to evaluate the turbid serum (milky).
- Triglyceride is part of lipid profile.
- 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:
- Hyperlipidemia.
- Hyperlipoproteinemia.
- Nephrotic syndrome.
- Liver diseases.
- Alcoholism (alcoholic cirrhosis).
- Diabetes Mellitus, uncontrolled.
- Glycogen storage disease (Von Gierke disease).
- Familial hypertriglyceridemia.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Gout.
- Anorexia nervosa.
- Down’s syndrome.
- Myocardial infarction.
Decreased Triglycerides level is seen in:
- Malnutrition.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Congenital α-β- lipoproteinemia.
- 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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