Triglycerides blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Triglycerides are the form in which the body stores and transports fat. They come from the food you eat and are also made by the liver, especially from excess sugar, refined carbohydrate and alcohol. After a meal they are packed into particles and carried in the blood to muscles for energy or to fat tissue for storage.

Raised triglycerides are linked with a higher risk of heart and circulation problems, particularly when they appear alongside low HDL cholesterol, a larger waist and raised blood sugar. Very high levels can also inflame the pancreas. Triglycerides are part of a standard lipid profile and are needed to calculate LDL cholesterol in many laboratories.

Your price includes the sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result and a GP feedback report on request. No GP referral is needed.

Who it is for

• You want to understand your heart risk and have not had a lipid test recently.
• You have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or a larger waist.
• You drink alcohol most days or eat a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• You have a family history of high cholesterol, high triglycerides or early heart disease.
• You are making changes to diet, weight or activity and want to track their effect.

Understanding your result

A raised triglyceride level is often linked to excess weight, insulin resistance, diabetes, alcohol, a diet high in sugar, an underactive thyroid, kidney or liver conditions, some medicines and inherited lipid disorders. Eating shortly before the test can also raise it. Triglycerides often respond well to lifestyle changes, and markedly raised levels are followed up with your GP. Low triglycerides are not usually a cause for concern.

Your report shows the laboratory reference range. A result outside it is a prompt for discussion with your practitioner about your overall heart risk, not a diagnosis.

Preparing for your test

Please fast for 10 to 12 hours before your appointment, drinking only water, so a morning slot is easiest. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours and a very fatty meal the evening before, as both can raise triglycerides for some time. Keep taking your usual medicines, including any cholesterol-lowering treatment, and tell us which ones you take.

Triglycerides are part of the Cholesterol Profile, which also measures total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and of Omnia Essential. You can compare every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a triglycerides blood test in Chiswick?

A triglycerides test costs £59. This covers your sample at our clinic, laboratory analysis, a practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Do I need to fast for a triglycerides test?

Yes. Fasting for 10 to 12 hours gives the most reliable result, because triglycerides rise after eating.

What lowers triglycerides?

Reducing alcohol, sugar and refined carbohydrates, losing excess weight and staying active are associated with lower triglycerides. Some people also need medicine, which your GP can advise on.

Should I check cholesterol at the same time?

It is usually worth it. Triglycerides are most meaningful as part of a full lipid profile, which gives a better picture of heart risk.