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Test Code TRIG Triglycerides, LAB134

Performing Laboratory

St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids

Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green-top (lithium heparin) tube

Acceptable: Gold-top serum gel tube, plain red-top tube, or EDTA plasma

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 1.1 µL plus a dead volume of plasma  or serum

Stability: Samples should be separated immediately or within 2 hours. Stability of serum samples is 2 days at 20-25 ⁰C, 10 days at 4 ⁰C, 3 months at -20 ⁰C or several years at -70 ⁰C. Stability of plasma samples is 2 days at 2-8 ⁰C, 15 days at 4 ⁰C, 3 months at -20 ⁰C, or several years at -70 ⁰C.

 

 

Reference Values

<150 mg/dL

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set the following guidelines (reference values) for triglycerides:

Normal: <150 mg/dL

Borderline high: 150-199 mg/dL

High: 200-499 mg/dL

Very high: ≥500 mg/dL

 

For inpatients:  Results >1800 mg/dL will be called to the unit, bedside glucose monitoring should be discontinued.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Useful For

Increased triglycerides measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, nephrosis, liver obstruction, familial hypertriglyceridemia, acute pancreatitis, pregnancy, gout, and other diseases involving lipid metabolism and various endocrine disorders.

 

Decreases in triglycerides levels are found in chronic hepatitis, chronic renal failure, cystic fibrosis, malnutrition, and congenital a-betalipoproteinemia.

Methodology

Enzymatic colorimetric test

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84478

Analytical Time

Within 1 hour of specimen arrival