Lipids
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most abundant lipid in the body and the main form in which dietary and stored fat is carried in the blood. They are measured as part of a lipid panel to help assess cardiovascular risk and to screen for disorders of fat metabolism.
Why it is measured
Raised triglycerides are linked with increased cardiovascular risk and, at very high concentrations, with a risk of acute pancreatitis. Measuring them alongside the cholesterol fractions supports lipid management and overall risk stratification.
| Typical range | Fasting desirable is below about 1.7 mmol/L (below roughly 150 mg/dL), with an indicative adult reference span of about 0.5 to 1.7 mmol/L. Higher bands are commonly described as borderline 1.7 to 2.3 mmol/L, high 2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L and very high above 5.6 mmol/L. Values vary by assay method, fasting status and laboratory, so always interpret against the reporting service's own quoted range. |
|---|---|
| Sample | Capillary fingerstick whole blood at the point of care, or venous serum or lithium heparin plasma sent to a laboratory. Triglycerides were traditionally measured fasting, though non-fasting samples are increasingly accepted for routine screening. |
| Turnaround | Typically about 3 to 12 minutes at the point of care, depending on the analyser: roughly 3 to 5 minutes for handheld strip devices and up to about 12 minutes for benchtop dry chemistry systems. |
Point of care devices that report it
- Abbott Cholestech LDX (benchtop dry chemistry lipid panel)
- PTS Diagnostics CardioChek PA and CardioChek Plus (handheld 3-in-1 lipid panel test strips)
- SD Biosensor SD LipidoCare (handheld lipid profile strip analyser)
- Seamaty SD1 (portable dry chemistry analyser with a lipid panel)
- Roche Accutrend Plus (handheld strip meter with a dedicated triglyceride test)
Questions, answered
Does a patient need to fast before a point-of-care triglyceride test?
Triglycerides rise after eating, so a fast of about 9 to 12 hours was historically preferred for accuracy. Many current guidelines now accept non-fasting samples for routine lipid screening, while fasting is still generally favoured when triglycerides are markedly raised or when monitoring a known lipid disorder. Follow your local testing protocol for the specific indication.
Why can a point-of-care triglyceride result differ from the laboratory value?
Differences can arise from capillary versus venous sampling, enzymatic dry chemistry versus laboratory methods, and known interferences such as high haematocrit or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on some analysers. Point-of-care testing is intended for screening and monitoring, so significant, unexpected or borderline-for-decision results are usually confirmed by an accredited laboratory.
What can cause a falsely high or variable triglyceride reading?
Common contributors include a recent meal or alcohol intake, certain medicines, a poorly mixed or delayed sample, high haematocrit and vitamin C interference on some devices. Adhering to the device instructions for use, correct sample handling and routine quality control helps reduce these errors.