Triglyceride Testing is Simple And Can Reveal Potential Problems
Triglyceride testing is the only sure way to determine if your triglyceride levels are too
high. Triglycerides in the blood are greatly influenced by your most recent meal
increasing as much as 5 to10 times higher than fasting levels just a few hours after eating.
Triglyceride testing is designed to determine your normal blood triglyceride levels after
the normal bodily processes have done their jobs. Therefore the test should only be
administered after a fast of about 12 hours. In addition, alcohol should not be consumed
for the 24 hours just before the test.
Your doctor might advise you concerning certain
drugs you may be taking. For example...
Drugs that can increase triglyceride
measurements include cholestyramine, estrogens, and oral contraceptives.
Drugs that can
decrease triglyceride measurements include ascorbic acid, asparaginase, clofibrate, and
colestipol.

Triglyceride testing involves a simple blood test. Blood is drawn from a vein, usually
from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A tourniquet is used to cut off blood
flow causing the veins below the tourniquet to fill with blood.
As the blood is being
withdrawn the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. The blood is normally
captured in an airtight vial and reserved for testing.
Test Results:
- Normal Serum Triglycerides = < 150.
- Borderline High Serum Triglycerides = 150-199.
- High Serum Triglycerides = 200-499.
- Very High Serum Triglycerides = > 499.
High triglycerides rarely exist in isolation. Usually other heart health risk factors are
present such as high total blood cholesterol. The blood tested for triglycerides will
normally be tested for these other factors as well.
Return from Triglyceride Testing to Main Triglycerides Page.
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