A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

You should not eat for 8 to 12 hours before the test.

Alcohol and some medicines can interfere with blood test results.

• Make sure your health care provider knows what medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
• Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
• Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn.

Triglycerides are usually measured together with other blood fats. Often it is done to help determine your risk of developing heart disease. A high triglyceride level may lead to atherosclerosis, which increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

A very high triglyceride level may also cause inflammation of your pancreas (called pancreatitis).

Results may indicate:

• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL (1.69 mmol/L)
• Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.69 to 2.25 mmol/L)
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.26 to 5.64 mmol/L)
• Very high: 500 mg/dL or above (5.65 mmol/L)

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

High triglyceride levels may be due to:

• Cirrhosis or liver damage
• Diet low in protein and high in carbohydrates
• Underactive thyroid
• Nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disorder)
• Other medicines, such as female hormones
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Disorder passed down through families in which there are high amounts of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood

Overall, the treatment of elevated triglyceride levels focuses on increased exercise and changes in the diet. Drugs to lower triglyceride levels may be used to prevent pancreatitis for levels above 500 mg/dL.

Low triglyceride levels may be due to:

• Low fat diet
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Malabsorption syndrome (conditions in which the small intestine does not absorb fats well)
• Malnutrition

Pregnancy can affect test results.

Triacylglycerol test

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Updated by: Thomas S. Metkus, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Internal review and update on 07/23/2023 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 11/02/2023.