Taking a medical test in the comfort and privacy of your home sounds appealing. Used properly, home test kits can provide a good sense of your triglyceride level. But home testing shouldn't take the place of getting your triglycerides checked by your doctor every five years.

How At-Home Tests Work
Triglycerides are usually assessed along with cholesterol, another type of fat in the blood. There are several home cholesterol tests on the market. While some only measure total cholesterol, others also measure triglycerides. To get a test that measures triglycerides, you'll probably spend more than $100.

At-home tests require you to prick your finger to get a drop of blood, which you place on a specially treated strip of paper. The paper then changes color depending on the result. With some tests, you put the paper in a small device, which analyzes the blood sample and displays a reading.

It's important to read and follow the test instructions closely. There may be some advance preparation involved. For instance, you may need to avoid eating or drinking anything except water for 12 hours before testing.

Accuracy of At-Home Testing
If you follow all the instructions, the quality of home triglyceride testing may be about as good as tests analyzed on the spot in a doctor's office. But it might not be as dependable as testing sent out to a lab, where trained technicians work under strict quality controls.

Test accuracy depends on factors such as how you store and handle the test materials and how you put the blood on the paper strip. If you don't do the test correctly, it could affect the results. There is also variation from brand to brand of home cholesterol/triglyceride tests, so read the accuracy information printed on the package. Tests that say they are "traceable" to a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generally are more accurate.

At-home tests can't take the place of professional medical care. If a test shows you have high triglycerides or abnormal cholesterol, you still need to follow up with your doctor. But if you like playing an active part in your own care, home testing may be an appealing option.