Idexx VetTest, Operator'S Manual

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H–22
IDEXX VetTest* Chemistry Analyzer Operator’s Manual
Triglycerides/TRIG
Triglycerides are usually present in the diet of dogs and cats, especially when the
animals are fed table scraps. They are also synthesized in the liver, mainly from
carbohydrates providing a secondary energy source, and are stored in fatty tissue.
Their hydrolysis to mono and diglyceride glycerol and free fatty acids is catalyzed by
pancreatic lipase.
Principal reason for performing the test:
To detect abnormalities in lipid metabolism.
Most common abnormality indicated by the test:
High fat diet or abnormalities in fat metabolism.
Special precautions in sample collection:
Blood should not be drawn within 12 hours of a meal.
Heparin and EDTA may be used as anticoagulants for plasma specimens. Remove
plasma or serum promptly from the clot or cells. Grossly lipemic specimens may give
inaccurate results, and should be diluted before analysis (see
Dilution Protocols ,
QBHF&
Limitations of procedure:
Glycerol: This triglycerides method is similar to most other triglycerides methods
because it is not blanked for glycerol. Glycerol can, therefore, cause higher triglycerides
results. Sources of glycerol are:
In vivo:
t
Patients may show an increase in triglyceride concentration due to
endogenous glycerol.
In vitro contamination:
t 1PTTJCMFTPVSDFTBSFDPMMFDUJPOUVCFTXJUIHMZDFSPM
lubricated stoppers, hand lotions that can contaminate disposable tips, and total
parenteral nutrition fluids that contain glycerol.
Complementary tests:
Triglycerides should not be measured in isolation. If the sample is turbid or milky
the test should be determined in conjunction with measurements of cholesterol and
glucose, and hepatic and renal function tests.