The Triglycerides test contains 1 test with 1 biomarker.
Description: The triglycerides blood test is a test used to measure levels of triglyceride, a type of fat and energy source for the body, in the blood’s serum.
Also Known As: TG Test, TRIG Test
Collection Method: Blood Draw
Specimen Type: Serum
Test Preparation: Patient should be fasting 9-12 hours
When is a Triglycerides test ordered?
For healthy adults, a lipid profile, which includes triglycerides, is advised every 4 to 6 years to assess the risk of heart disease. Between the ages of 9 and 11, as well as between 17 and 21, children should receive at least one lipid profile screening.
When persons have heart disease risk factors identified, additional testing may be required.
Triglycerides should be assessed as part of any lipid testing for diabetics because they dramatically rise when blood glucose levels are not well-controlled.
For children and young adults, screening for excessive cholesterol as part of a lipid profile is advised. Between the ages of 9 and 11, as well as between 17 and 21, they should be tested once. For children and adolescents who have a higher risk of developing heart disease as adults, earlier and more frequent screening with a lipid profile is advised. One of the risk factors includes having a family history of heart disease or having health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, or being overweight. Other risk factors are comparable to those that affect adults.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having the first cholesterol test for high-risk children between the ages of 2 and 8. Testing on children under the age of two is not appropriate.
Triglyceride tests may be requested on a regular basis as part of a lipid profile to assess the success of cholesterol-lowering lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise or to monitor the efficiency of medication therapy like statins. For people on statins, guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association advise having a fasting lipid profile performed 4 to 12 weeks after beginning therapy and then every 3 to 12 months after that to ensure that the medication is effective.
What does a Triglycerides blood test check for?
Triglycerides are a type of fat and the body's main energy source. Triglyceride levels in the blood are determined by this test.
Triglycerides are primarily contained in adipose (fat) tissue, although some triglycerides also circulate in the blood to feed muscles. Triglycerides are seen in higher concentrations in the blood after eating because the body stores fat from the excess energy. Triglycerides travel from the gut to adipose tissue via the circulation to be stored there. Triglycerides are released from adipose tissue between meals and used by the body as an energy source. Very low-density lipoproteins, a type of lipoprotein, carry the majority of triglycerides in the blood.
Although the exact cause of this is unknown, high blood triglyceride levels are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease development. Lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, and having medical problems like diabetes and kidney disease are just a few things that can increase triglyceride levels and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Lab tests often ordered with a Triglycerides test:
- Cholesterol Total
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Lipid Panel
Conditions where a Triglycerides test is recommended:
How does my health care provider use a Triglycerides test?
Triglyceride blood tests are typically a component of a lipid profile, which is used to determine a person's risk of developing heart disease and to assist determine what treatment may be required if there is a borderline or high risk. It can be used to monitor persons who have heart disease risk factors, those who have had a heart attack, or those who are receiving treatment for high lipid and/or high triglyceride levels as part of a lipid profile.
A treatment and follow-up plan is created using the results of the cholesterol test and other elements of the lipid profile, as well as any recognized risk factors for heart disease. Treatment options may include lipid-lowering medications like statins or lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise regimens.
What do my Triglycerides test results mean?
Healthy lipid levels generally contribute to heart health and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. To evaluate a person's overall risk of heart disease, if treatment is required, and, if so, which treatment will best serve to minimize the person's risk, a healthcare professional will take into account the results of each component of the lipid profile in addition to other risk factors.
Both children and adults run the risk of getting pancreatitis when triglycerides are too high. Treatment should be started as soon as possible to lower triglyceride levels.
We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.
