Triglyceride measurements: a review of methods and interferences

The National Cholesterol Education Program has emphasized the need to identify individuals at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Because increased triglycerides may be a risk factor for CAD and because triglycerides are used to estimate concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which has definitely been shown to be a risk factor for CAD, it is important that reliable results be obtained. Many methods are available for measuring triglyceride concentrations in serum or plasma, but there is no definitive method that confirms the reliability of any of these procedures. Accuracy and precision guidelines are extremely difficult to determine, owing to broad biological variability both within and among individuals. Here, we review the major triglyceride quantification methods in the literature, some of the potential interference problems, and the limitations regarding standardization that should be addressed when establishing such guidelines.