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As the blood is being withdrawn the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation.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.


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