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Test Code LAB134 Triglycerides, Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mint green-top Lithium Heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Green samplette/microtainer, plain red-top tube, Gold SST gel tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a microtainer, plain red-top tube, or lavender-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL)

Special Instructions: None

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 

≤ 9 years: <100 mg/dL
Interpretation:
     Desirable: <75  mg/dL
     Borderline High: 75-99 mg/dL                                                      
     High: ≥ 100 mg/dL
10- 20 years: <130 mg/dL
Interpretation:
     Desirable: <90 mg/dL
     Borderline High: 90-129 mg/dL
     HIgh: ≥ 130 mg/dL
≥ 20 years: <150 mg/dL
     Desirable: <150 mg/dL
     Borderline High: 150-199 mg/dL
     HIgh: 200-499 mg/dL
     Very High: ≥ 499 mg/dL

References:

  1. Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2011;128:S213
  2. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Circulation 2004;110:227

Critical Value: none established

 

Methodology

Enzymatic, Colorimetric

Limitations

  • Endogenous unesterified glycerol in the sampole will falsely elevate serum triglycerides. 
  • Dicynone (Etamsylaste) at therapeutic concentrations may lead to false-low results.
  • Ascorbic acid and calcium dobesilate cause artificially low triglyceride results.
  • Intralipid is directly measured as analyte in this assay and leads to high triglyceride results.
  • Dicynone (Etamsylate) at therapeutic concentrations may lead to false-low results.
  • In very rare cases gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia) may cause unreliable results.

For diagnostic purposes, the results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical examination, and other findings.

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate. If specimen is collected in microtainer, plain red-top tube, or lavender-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: 0.3 mL plasma/serum

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient NA
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Ambient  2 days
  Frozen  1 year       

Test Classification and CPT Code

84478

LOINC

2571-8

Last Reviewed

06/2025