Biochemistry

Preferred Sample Type

Triglycerides

Suitable Specimen Types

Serum

Triglycerides

Specimen Volume

1 ml blood minimum

Sample Preparation

Centrifuge

Turnaround Time

1 Day

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Usual

Sample Stability

Specimens stable at 4°C for 10 days. For longer periods, store serum/plasma frozen.

General Information

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. They are present in blood plasma and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids.

Triglycerides in plasma are derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates. Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.

Excess triglycerides in plasma is called hypertriglyceridemia, which is linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. Elevated triglycerides may be a consequence of other disease, such as untreated diabetes mellitus. Like cholesterol, increases in triglyceride levels can be detected by plasma measurements. These measurements should be made after an overnight food and alcohol fast

 

Patient Preparation

Triglycerides are best measured after the patient has been fasting  for 12 hours so that the production and metabolism of VLDL has reached steady state and there are no chylomicrons present.

Reference Range

Optimal level (Joint British Societies guidelines) is <1.7 mmol/L

Specifications

  • EQA Status:

    NEQAS

  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Link to Further Information

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/triglycerides/tab/glance

Related Tests

Cholesterol HDL Cholesterol

Creation Date

Monday, 08 August 2011

Modification Date

Tuesday, 01 March 2022

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University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
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