0.5 mL Container Serum-separator tube or transfer tube. Storage Instructions Separate from cells within 45 minutes. Maintain specimen at room temperature. Patient Preparation Patient should be fasting 12-14 hours. The patient should be on a stable diet 2 weeks prior to collection of blood.
Some alcoholics have hypertriglyceridemia which disappears with abstinence.
Extremely high triglyceride levels may occur with alcohol abuse. Disturbances in triglyceride metabolism relate to diabetes and are a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease, but not an independent one. In familial combined hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia may be found before hypercholesterolemia. Nevertheless, a strong case is not available for primary triglyceride evaluation of healthy persons without positive family history of coronary disease or other risk factors. Some knowledgeable authorities favor testing with lipid profiles, including triglycerides, for reasons discussed elsewhere in this listing.