Which serum color indicates high triglycerides in a canine patient?

Which serum color indicates high triglycerides in a canine patient?

• A. Milky
• B. Yellow
• C. Red
• D. Clear

Answer: (A)

When triglyceride levels are high, the serum becomes lipemic, turning a normal sample milky or cloudy due to the presence of lipoproteins like chylomicrons and VLDL. In dogs, this lipemic, milky serum is a practical sign that triglycerides are elevated. Other colors point to different issues: yellow serum suggests icterus from elevated bilirubin, red serum indicates hemolysis, and clear serum usually means no turbidity and typically normal triglyceride levels. Lipemia can be more noticeable after eating, so fasting samples may reduce it, though some dogs with hyperlipidemia show milky serum regardless.

When triglyceride levels are high, the serum becomes lipemic, turning a normal sample milky or cloudy due to the presence of lipoproteins like chylomicrons and VLDL. In dogs, this lipemic, milky serum is a practical sign that triglycerides are elevated.

Other colors point to different issues: yellow serum suggests icterus from elevated bilirubin, red serum indicates hemolysis, and clear serum usually means no turbidity and typically normal triglyceride levels. Lipemia can be more noticeable after eating, so fasting samples may reduce it, though some dogs with hyperlipidemia show milky serum regardless.