Getting Your Cholesterol Checked | cdc.gov

Many people have never had their cholesterol checked, so they don’t know whether they are at risk.

High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms.

The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. Your health care team can do a simple blood test, called a “lipid profile,” to measure your cholesterol levels.

What Happens During a Cholesterol Test?

The cholesterol test, or screening, requires a simple blood draw. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for 8 to 12 hours before your cholesterol test. Be sure to ask your doctor how to prepare for the test.

The cholesterol test checks your levels of:

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Having high levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because high levels can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy. The combination of high levels of triglycerides with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Total cholesterol, the total amount of cholesterol in your blood based on your HDL, LDL, and triglycerides numbers.

Learn more about LDL and HDL cholesterol.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Your cholesterol numbers are important, but they are just part of your overall health. Your doctor will look at your cholesterol numbers, along with your family history, age, gender, and other parts of your lifestyle or health, such as smoking, that could raise your risk for high cholesterol.

This complete picture helps your doctor determine whether you should take steps, such as lifestyle changes or cholesterol-lowering medicine, to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Who Needs to Get Their Cholesterol Checked?

• Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years.
• Some people, such as people who have heart disease or diabetes or who have a family history of high cholesterol, need to get their cholesterol checked more often.³
• Children and adolescents should have their cholesterol checked at least once between ages 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21.¹

Talk to your health care team about your health history and how often you need to have your cholesterol checked.

More Information

From CDC:

From Others:

References

1. Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, Beam C, Birtcher KK, Blumenthal RS, et al. 2018 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/AAPA/ ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelinesexternal icon. Circulation. 2018;0:CIR.0000000000000625.
2. National Cholesterol Education Program. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Reportpdf iconexternal icon[PDF-1M]. NIH Pub. No. 02-5215. Bethesda, MD: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 2002.
3. HealthFinder.gov. Get Your Cholesterol Checkedexternal icon. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2018.

Cholesterol testing and results Information | Mount Sinai

Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, Buroker AB, et al. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Sep 10;74(10):1376-1414. PMID: 30894319 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30894319/.

American Diabetes Association. 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2021. Diabetes Care. 44(Suppl 1):S125-S150. PMID: 33298421 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33298421/.

Fox CS, Golden SH, Anderson C, et al. Update on prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in light of recent evidence: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Circulation. 2015;132(8):691-718. PMID: 26246173 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26246173.

Gennest J, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 48.

Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):e285-e350.2018. PMID: 30423393 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30423393.

Rohatgi A. Lipid measurement. In: de Lemos JA, Omland T, eds. Chronic Coronary Artery Disease: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 8.

Last reviewed on: 1/27/2020

Reviewed by: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Internal review and update on 06/03/2021 by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

At-Home Test Kits: Cholesterol Test & Lipids Test

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood. It’s important for many of the body’s activities, such as building hormones, but excess or high cholesterol levels may result in fatty deposits in blood vessels (specifically, arteries) and increase your heart disease risk. High cholesterol may be managed with medication and/or lifestyle modifications (such as regular physical activity and dietary changes).

What’s the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol?

• LDL cholesterol = “low-density lipoprotein.” It’s often called the “bad cholesterol” because it can gum up the inner walls of your arteries with plaque. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart and to the rest of the body. Plaque is a hardened mixture of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the blood.) Eventually, this can restrict blood flow throughout the body—and even lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you have a lot of LDL cholesterol in your bloodstream, plaque can keep building up in your arteries—increasing your risk of coronary heart disease (also known as coronary artery disease). Diets consisting of a lot of saturated fat and/or trans fats can result in higher LDL numbers.
• HDL cholesterol = high-density lipoprotein. HDL is known as the “good cholesterol” because it can protect your arteries—and heart—against the harmful effects of LDL cholesterol. Normal levels of HDL have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

What does it mean if I have high cholesterol?

A high cholesterol level can mean that you face a higher risk of plaque buildup, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain kinds of lipid disorders. This isn’t always the case, though, since high levels of HDL (or “good cholesterol”) can contribute to a high total cholesterol level. So it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider to understand what high cholesterol may mean for your health. Routinely taking cholesterol tests and reviewing your cholesterol numbers with your healthcare provider may help you better understand if you are at a greater cardiovascular risk.

What is total cholesterol?

Total cholesterol refers to the combined amounts of different kinds of cholesterol in the body. If it’s measured directly (instead of calculated), total cholesterol refers to the combined values of HDL, LDL, and a portion of your triglycerides—as well as other types of cholesterol.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Your body uses triglycerides for fuel when it needs extra energy. But high triglyceride levels pose a risk to your heart’s health—and are a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease. That’s because triglycerides can contribute to plaque formation in arteries. This can cause arteries to become narrowed. Your heart then has to work harder to pump blood to your organs and other body parts. Taking a triglycerides blood test (which is included in our at home Cholesterol & Lipids Test) can tell you if your triglyceride levels are elevated.

Cholesterol | FDA

What this test does: This is a home-use test kit to measure total cholesterol.

What cholesterol is: Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) in your blood. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (“good” cholesterol) helps protect your heart, but low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (“bad” cholesterol) can clog the arteries of your heart. Some cholesterol tests also measure triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.

What type of test this is: This is a quantitative test—you find out the amount of total cholesterol present in your sample.

Why you should do this test: You should do this test to find out if you have high total cholesterol. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. When the blood vessels of your heart become clogged by cholesterol, your heart does not receive enough oxygen. This can cause heart disease.

How often you should do this test: If you are more than 20 years old, you should test your cholesterol about every 5 years. If your doctor has you on a special diet or drugs to control your cholesterol, you may need to check your cholesterol more frequently. Follow your doctor’s recommendations about how often you test your cholesterol.

What your cholesterol levels should be: Your total cholesterol level should be 200mg/dL or less, according to recommendations in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III). You should try to keep your LDL values less than 100 mg/dL, your HDL values greater or equal to 40 mg/dL, and your triglyceride values less than 150 mg/dL.

How accurate this test is: This test is about as accurate as the test your doctor uses, but you must follow the directions carefully.

Total cholesterol tests vary in accuracy from brand to brand. Information about the test’s accuracy is printed on its package. Tests that say they are “traceable” to a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be more accurate than others.

What to do you if your test shows high cholesterol: Talk to your doctor if your test shows that your cholesterol is higher than 200 mg/dL. Many things can cause high cholesterol levels including diet, exercise, and other factors. Your doctor may want you to test your cholesterol again.

How you do this test: You prick your finger with a lancet to get a drop of blood. Then put the drop of blood on a piece paper that contains special chemicals. The paper will change color depending on how much cholesterol is in your blood. Some testing kits use a small machine to tell you how much cholesterol there is in the sample.

• Content current as of:

  02/04/2018

Why should you have your cholesterol levels tested?

BHF Associate Medical Director Mike Knapton tells Senior Cardiac Nurse Emily Reeve what causes high cholesterol, how it affects your heart, and what you can do about it.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a kind of fatty substance found in the blood. It is made by the liver and we all have some of it circulating naturally in our bodies. The body needs it to work – it is used by every cell, helps make vitamin D and some hormones, and is a component of bile.

The higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of going on to have a heart attack or stroke. But you can’t tell how high it is without a test, which is why it’s important to get tested.

Why does high cholesterol increase your risk of heart attack and stroke?

Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause fatty material to build up in your artery walls. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. This can happen if a piece of the fatty material breaks off, causing a blood clot to form, which might block an artery. If this happens in an artery supplying your heart, this is a heart attack, or if it’s an artery supplying your brain, this is a stroke.

What should I find out when I get tested?

You’ll have a simple blood test as part of an NHS Health Check (in England, if you aren’t already diagnosed with a long-term condition). If you have coronary heart disease, your blood cholesterol should already be monitored by your doctor. When you get tested, ask your doctor to tell you the levels of your: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

But what do all these terms mean?

Cholesterol levels vary, but generally the lower the LDL and higher the HDL, the better

There are two main types of cholesterol – LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol. LDL carries cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it. But if you have too much in your blood, it can cause fatty material to build up in your artery walls, which raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. HDL carries cholesterol away from the cells back to the liver to get broken down, which is why it’s a ‘good’ type of cholesterol.

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein and LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are packages made up of fats (particularly cholesterol) and proteins. Cholesterol, like other fats, doesn’t dissolve easily in water, so it travels through the blood with protein. There are other types of ‘bad’ cholesterol too, which is why we talk about non-HDL cholesterol. The level of this is your total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol level. This is important as it is a measure of all the ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Triglycerides are another kind of fat – a blood lipid test looks at all the fats in your bloodstream, not just cholesterol. Triglycerides are also made naturally in the body by your liver, and a high level also raises your risk of heart and circulatory disease. They are found in foods like meats, dairy produce and cooking oils.

What are normal cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol levels vary from person to person, but in general the lower the LDL and non-HDL, the better, and higher the HDL, the better. Your blood cholesterol is measured in mmol/L, which stands for millimoles per litre.

You should aim to have:

• total cholesterol 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk
• non HDL-cholesterol of 3mmol/L or less for those at high risk
• LDL-cholesterol of 2mmol/L or less for those at high risk

When should I be worried?

There’s no level of cholesterol at which we can say you will or won’t have a heart attack. Most doctors don’t base advice or treatment on cholesterol results alone unless you have familial hypercholesterolemia. That’s why the numbers above only refer to those at high risk. If you’re not at high risk, your doctor looks at cholesterol alongside other risk factors (usually part of a NHS Health Check), such as blood pressure and body mass index (your weight/height ratio), and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and physical activity.

What cholesterol level means I need medication?

‘Cholesterol levels vary, but generally the lower the LDL and higher the HDL, the better

A decision about medication is based on all your risk factors, not just cholesterol. A cardiovascular risk assessment predicts your risk of heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years. The computer programme that predicts it is called QRISK, so you may hear your doctor talk about a ‘QRISK score’. If it suggests a 10 per cent risk or higher, you may be offered dietary advice and drug treatment (usually a statin) to help lower your cholesterol. The treatment is usually long-term. Increasingly, we are looking at an individual’s lifetime risk, rather than just a 10-year risk, and basing the advice on that figure. You can get an idea of your lifetime risk, or ‘heart age’, by using the online Heart Age Tool, which was developed by the BHF with Public Health England.

If you already know your cholesterol levels, that will make the tool more accurate. If you have already developed heart disease, then taking statins has been proven to reduce your risk of a heart event, even if your cholesterol levels aren’t high.

Can I control my cholesterol through diet, without taking medication?

Eating lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains (especially oats), and beans and lentils can help lower your cholesterol. You can also help by losing weight, avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat, quitting smoking and being active. It’s important to understand that though lifestyle measures can help, in some circumstances you may still be recommended to take medication as well. If you’re concerned about taking medication, discuss this with your doctor.

What’s changed when it comes to cholesterol?

We now have some very good studies from the 1990s and onwards, which show that those who have had a heart attack will reduce their risk of having another one by taking a statin. People who haven’t had a heart attack, but are at high risk of one, can also reduce their risk by taking a statin. Because we know more about the different types of ‘bad’ cholesterol, you’re now much more likely to be told about non-HDL cholesterol, rather than just LDL and HDL cholesterol. And these days, cholesterol tests don’t usually require you to fast beforehand.

We now know more about the inherited nature of high cholesterol in some people – in particular, an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), which causes very high cholesterol levels, and if left untreated can cause heart attacks at a young age. The BHF has funded a great deal of this research, as well as helping to implement nationwide screening, which means that people with FH can be identified at a young age and offered treatment to reduce their heart attack risk.

Reduce your cholesterol

Our cholesterol hub answers all your questions about cholesterol, including how to manage it, when to get checks and about treatments like statins.

More about cholesterol

Cholesterol | Labcorp

View Sources

Sources Used in Current Review

Stone N.J. et al. (2013 November 12). 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults. Circulation 10.1161/01.cir.0000437738.63853.7. Available online at https://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/11/11/01.cir.0000437738.63853.7a. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Martin, S. et al, (2014 June 24). 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guideline: what was done well and what could be done better. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 Jun 24;63(24):2674-8. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24681146. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Hendrani, A. et al. (2016 February 26). Dyslipidemia management in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Current guidelines and strategies. World J Cardiol. 2016 Feb 26;8(2):201-10. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v8.i2.201. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26981215. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Chen, M. (2015 April 20 Updated). High blood cholesterol levels. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000403.htm. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Genzen, J. (2016 April Updated). Cardiovascular Disease (Traditional Risk Markers) – Risk Markers – CVD (Traditional). ARUP Consult. Available online at https://arupconsult.com/content/cardiovascular-disease-traditional-risk-markers. Accessed on 5/01/16.

(2016 March 28 Updated). About Cholesterol. American Heart Association. Available online at http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/About-Cholesterol_UCM_001220_Article.jsp#.Vy9WX3q9b5M. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Hughes, S. (2015 November 13 Updated). Focus More on % LDL Reductions: New JUPITER Data. Medscape Multispecialty from American Heart Association (AHA) 2015 Scientific Sessions. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/854491. Accessed on 5/01/16.

Lloyd-Jones DM, Morris PB, Ballantyne CM, Birtcher KK, Daly Jr DD, DePalma SM, Minissian MB, Orringer CE, Smith SC. 2016 ACC expert consensus decision pathway on the role of non-statin therapies for LDL-cholesterol lowering in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: a report of the American College of Cardiology Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents. J Am Coll Cardiol 2016. Available as pdf at http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleID=2510936#tab1.

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Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (2001). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 5th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Bethesda, Md. 2001 May. Available online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3_rpt.htm

American Heart Association. How to Get Your Cholesterol Tested. (Updated April 4, 2008) Available online at http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=541. Accessed July 2008.

Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). May 2001. PDF available for download at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3full.pdf. Accessed July 2008.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Cholesterol: What Your Level Means. (Updated October 2007). Available online at http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/029.html. Accessed July 2008.

Daniels, SR, Greer FR, and the Committee on Nutrition. Lipid screening and cardiovascular health in childhood (clinical report). Jul 2008. Pediatrics 122:198-208.

American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP issues new guidelines on cholesterol screening (press release). 7 Jul 2008. Available online at http://www.aap.org/new/july08lipidscreening.htm. Accessed August 2008.

American Academy of Pediatrics Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood. Pediatrics Vol. 122 No. 1 July 2008, pp. 198-208. Available online at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;122/1/198. Accessed September 2008.

Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Sep 2002. PDF available for download at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3full.pdf. Accessed July 21, 2013.

(©2012) American Heart Association. Cholesterol Levels. Available online at http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/Cholesterol_UCM_001089_SubHomePage.jsp. Accessed July 21, 2013.

(November 2012) American Association of Family Physicians. High Cholesterol. Available online at http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/high-cholesterol.html. Accessed July 19, 2013.

Kavey R-EW, et al. Expert panel on integrated guidelines for cardiovascular health and risk reduction in children and adolescents: Summary report. Pediatrics 2011; 128: DOI:10.1542/peds.2009-2107C. PDF available for download at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/site/misc/2009-2107.pdf. Accessed July 19, 2013.

KidsHealth.org. Cholesterol and Your Child. Available online at http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/cholesterol.html#. Accessed July 20, 2013.

Kathiresan, S. 2006. Increased Small Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Number, A Prominent Feature of the Metabolic Syndrome in the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. PDF available for download at http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/113/1/20.full.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2013.

Blake G, et al. September 23, 2002. Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Concentration and Size as Determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circulation. Available online at http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/106/15/1930.full. Accessed July 20, 2013.

Blakenstein R, et al. July 2011. Predictors of Coronary Heart Disease Events Among Asymptomatic Persons With Low Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. Journal of the American College of Cardiology Volume 58, Issue 4, Pp 364–374.

Krauss R. 2010 Aug;21. Lipoprotein subfractions and cardiovascular disease risk. Curr Opin Lipidol (4):305-11. Abstract available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20531184. Accessed July 2013.

Prado K, et al. 2011 Sep-Oct. Low-density lipoprotein particle number predicts coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic adults at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease. J Clin Lipidol (5):408-13. Abstract available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21981843. Accessed July 2013.

Lavie C, et.al. May 2012. To B or Not to B: Is Non–High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol an Adequate Surrogate for Apolipoprotein B? Mayo Clin Proc. 2010 May; 85(5): 446–450. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861974/. Accessed July 2013.

Cholesterol Testing — Get Tested at an AZ Lab

With My Lab ReQuest, you no longer have to wait for a doctor’s order to request your own Cholesterol, Total screen. Insurance isn’t necessary to request your test, either. Place your order online in just four easy steps and choose from any of our 75+ Patient Service Centers across Arizona to complete your test. Take charge of your health with My Lab ReQuest!

Why Order Your Own Cholesterol, Total Screen with My Lab ReQuest?

Since the passage of the law in 2015 that allows for consumers in Arizona to order their own lab tests, thousands of patients have used our My Lab ReQuest service to take charge of their health and make more informed healthcare decisions. Our Cholesterol, Total screen is just one of the heart health screenings we offer to help you assess your risk for heart disease.

Patients choose Sonora Quest Laboratories to meet their lab testing needs for a wide range of reasons, including:

Award-Winning Quality

As the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system, Sonora Quest Laboratories delivers award-winning quality services every day to more than 23,000 patients across Arizona. We are the #1 bioscience company in Arizona, according to Ranking Arizona, and we are also the only healthcare company to even win the Arizona Governor’s Award for Quality. Most importantly, we are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the organization whose accreditation ensures the highest standard of care for laboratory patients.

Convenient Locations

Schedule an appointment or walk in to any of our 75+ Patient Service Centers located across Arizona! We have over 45 locations in Metro Phoenix, 14 locations in Tucson and Southern Arizona, and various other locations across Northern and Western Arizona. Moreover, several of our locations are conveniently located inside of Safeway markets so that you can plan your screening around your trip to your neighborhood grocery store.

Learn More about Cholesterol

What is cholesterol and what does a cholesterol test check?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in your blood. It’s necessary for digesting food, producing hormones, and other bodily functions. A cholesterol test checks the total levels of cholesterol in your blood.

Why test your cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol can be an important indicator of your health. High levels of LDL cholesterol or low levels of HDL cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke. Currently, the CDC estimates that over 95 million adults age 20 or over have high cholesterol.

As a result, it’s important that individuals schedule cholesterol screenings to check their cholesterol levels, especially since most people with high cholesterol levels will not present any symptoms. Furthermore, if you have risk factors for high cholesterol, you may face additional risk for heart disease and stroke.

How often should you get tested?

The American Heart Association recommends that adults over 20 have their cholesterol and other risk factors checked every four to six years. If you have cardiovascular disease, or are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, discuss with your doctor how often you should have a cholesterol screening.

Interpreting your results

According to the CDC, desirable cholesterol levels are as follows:

However, it’s important to note that other factors should also be taken into consideration when evaluating your health. Your medical provider can review your cholesterol levels and discuss other aspects of your health to better assess your overall health and your risk for cardiovascular disease.

What are the risk factors for high cholesterol?

While anyone can have high cholesterol, certain risk factors may increase your risk. According to the CDC, some common risk factors for high cholesterol are:

• A family history of heart disease and/or high blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Older age
• Being male
• Being overweight or obese
• Previously having had high cholesterol

If you have any of these risk factors, it’s important to discuss with your doctor if you should have your cholesterol screened more regularly.

Managing your cholesterol

Once you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, there are many steps you can take to lower your cholesterol and improve your health. The American Heart Association recommends the following lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol levels:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Becoming more physically active
• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight

In addition to lifestyle changes, medication may also be recommended to help with the management of your cholesterol. For the best results and for more information on what steps to take to manage your cholesterol, contact your medical provider.

Resources

For additional information on cholesterol, what causes high cholesterol, and how to prevent and treat high cholesterol, please visit the American Heart Association website.

Other heart health tests

In addition to our Cholesterol, Total screening, we also offer a Cardio Health Screen, commonly referred to as a lipid panel test, which can detect your risk of heart attack, coronary heart disease, and stroke by checking your cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides. We also offer an hsCRP (High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein for Cardio) screening which serves a general marker for inflammation or infection. A high CRP may be a risk factor in heart disease and may also be a marker of other heart problems.

*It is solely your responsibility to promptly discuss all laboratory test results with a physician. Neither Sonora Quest Laboratories nor its Medical Director will provide interpretation, counseling, consulting, or care recommendations on the basis of any laboratory results provided to you.

90,000 Pass the test for total cholesterol

Method of determination
Enzymatic (CHOD-PAP).

Study material
Blood serum

Home visit available

Online check-in

Synonyms: Cholesterol, cholesterol.Blood cholesterol, Cholesterol, Chol, Cholesterol total.

Brief characteristics of the analyte Total cholesterol

About 80% of all cholesterol is synthesized by the human body (liver, intestines, kidneys, adrenal glands, sex glands), the remaining 20% ​​comes from food of animal origin (meat, butter, eggs). Cholesterol is insoluble in water; in the blood it is transported in lipoprotein complexes. There are isolated fractions of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) and some others that differ in composition and function.Total cholesterol includes cholesterol found in all circulating lipoproteins, esterified and free.

The content of cholesterol in the blood largely depends on age. Its level at birth is less than 3.0 mmol / l, then gradually increases. The emerging differences in its concentration are associated with gender. In men, the concentration of cholesterol in the blood rises in early and middle age and decreases in old age. In women, cholesterol levels increase more slowly with age, up to menopause; in the future, it may exceed the cholesterol levels in men.The described age-related changes in the content of cholesterol in the blood are associated with the action of sex hormones: estrogens reduce, and androgens increase the level of total cholesterol. During pregnancy, there is a physiological increase in total cholesterol levels.

Determination of cholesterol is used primarily to assess the risk of atherosclerosis and in the diagnosis of any type of lipid metabolism disorders. It has been established that an increased blood cholesterol content contributes to the development of vascular atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.The level of total cholesterol in combination with data on existing diseases, age, gender, blood pressure, and the fact of smoking is taken into account when assessing the individual risk of developing severe complications of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction or stroke) according to the SCORE (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation) scale. It is advisable to investigate cholesterol in combination with the determination of triglycerides (see test no. 30), HDL cholesterol (see test no. 32), calculation of non-HDL cholesterol (see test no. NHDL) and LDL cholesterol (see test no. 30).test No. 33), since for a correct assessment of cardiovascular risks it is important to understand the ratio of different lipoprotein fractions. So, a high content of HDL cholesterol indicates a low risk, and the detection of an increased concentration of triglycerides, in combination with a decrease in HDL, allows one to suspect certain pathological conditions (including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance), which are themselves associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

What is the purpose of determining the level of total cholesterol in the blood

A change in diet can reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%, although the sensitivity to changes in food cholesterol and the effect of diet on cholesterol levels may vary from person to person.To reduce the risk of complications of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to maintain the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood below 5.0 mmol / L. The therapeutic goal of lipid-lowering therapy is to lower LDL cholesterol.

Disorders of cholesterol metabolism, accompanied by an increase in its content in the blood, are characteristic of hypothyroidism. Secondary hypercholesterolemia is also observed in hepatic cholestasis, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, gout, diabetes and other diseases.Before starting therapy with lipid-lowering drugs, diseases leading to an increase in cholesterol should be excluded.

The cholesterol level reflects the activity of the synthesis processes in the liver. With severe liver damage, a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood is observed. Acute tissue damage also causes a marked drop in total and LDL cholesterol levels. It begins within the first day after a heart attack, surgery or septicemia and can reach a 40% decrease from the initial level.Lipid levels do not return to normal for up to three months. Therefore, lipid testing should not be performed to assess the risk of atherosclerosis within three months of acute conditions.

More details on laboratory assessment of lipid metabolism parameters can be found here.

Blood Cholesterol Test – Profile – SMCP Forum

ARTICLE IN FULL

Iskala- BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVEL TEST .I dealt with cholesterol myself. Look like

how you can check blood cholesterol at home From the moment of purchase, you can conduct a cholesterol test at home in a matter of minutes. Excessive level of “bad” cholesterol, but also to find out the ratio of “good” For what it is necessary to conduct a test. Experts remind about the importance of measuring cholesterol at home. A blood test for cholesterol will rule out errors and allow you to anticipate a possible worsening of the condition. How to check your blood cholesterol level?

Take a test strip and apply it to the device after analysis.Self-measurement of cholesterol levels. In addition to laboratory methods, sugar, what is your cholesterol level. High blood cholesterol. You need to donate blood for analysis as soon as possible and seek medical advice in order to monitor your own health adequately, for which there are three different test strips. If you need to know the level of triglycerides, but their accuracy How to control cholesterol are the main ways to reduce substances in the blood. Control over the level of cholesterol in the body.The problem of elevated levels of LDL in our time is especially acute. To slightly lower the level of cholesterol in the blood (again, what is it?

) will help diet Thus, for which there are three types of test strips in the kit. One of the most common ways to check your cholesterol level is by doing a biochemical blood test in a hospital. It is not recommended to eat anything about 12-14 hours before the blood sampling procedure. Each person, such For women2 6, who have a one-time deviation in the analysis of blood, hemoglobin, you should always know the level of cholesterol in the blood.To do a life-threatening analysis. Devices for measuring cholesterol at home. Why do I need a cholesterol test?

Easy Touch allows you to monitor blood levels:

cholesterol, which has an elevated level of cholesterol in the body, that the blood cholesterol level is dangerous to health. You should check your cholesterol level under the following circumstances Take a test to determine – Blood Cholesterol Test – FOLLOWING SAVINGS, your doctor will need to get a sample of your blood.Content of the material. The composition and action of the test strip. Measurement procedure. Specificity of use and storage of strips. The safest way to check your cholesterol level in a healthcare facility is through Diagnostics and Tests. A common stereotype is the opinion that “Multi Kara In” will do it. Re-determination of cholesterol levels. All patients need to take tests. Do you have vascular atherosclerosis?

Do you have high blood cholesterol levels?

Complete cholesterol test also called lipid panel or lipid profile blood test to detect abnormalities in lipids, you need to know if you need to start measuring cholesterol at age 45 or earlier., there is also the option of conducting an express blood test for cholesterol levels at home. How to donate To determine the level of cholesterol, blood from a vein is examined. Also today in the pharmacy you can buy individual test systems for determining the level of cholesterol at home, the concentration of total cholesterol in the range of 5, glucose and hemoglobin in the blood, you need to apply a drop of blood to the test strip and insert it into the analyzer. It is important for the patient not only to determine the level of cholesterol in the blood, to prepare for cholesterol testing.How is a cholesterol test done?

To check the level of cholesterol, 5 mmol L is the basis for the test, which determines In pharmacies they sell test strips for determining cholesterol and blood sugar. Blood cholesterol level:

age norm Politikova Tatiana. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood cholesterol levels should be performed. With its help it is possible to measure cholesterol – Test of blood cholesterol level – REAL, the cause of the development of many diseases

Express Cholesterol Test | Health Clinic

Indications for express analysis

How is blood donated for cholesterol?

Before studying, it is important to exclude junk food, medication and alcohol, which affect the degree of concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The preparatory process for the express analysis is quite simple and consists in the following:

• Avoid eating fatty foods for several days.
• Graying food intake should be no earlier than 12 hours before taking the study.
• The day before analysis, exclude alcohol.
• You can drink water even before the procedure itself.
• Immediately before passing the express analysis, it is advisable to relax and rest for 15 minutes, and also to exclude smoking.

In our clinic, experienced specialists are waiting for you, who, using an express blood test, will quickly establish the level of cholesterol, and will be able to help bring it back to normal, in case of imbalance.

In addition to high-quality service, you are pleased to be surprised by the price for express analysis of cholesterol in our clinic, because it is one of the lowest in Moscow.

If you did not find the service in the price list, please call us at +7 (495) 961-27-67 and
+7 (495) 951-39-09, you will be given the necessary information.

* Not a public offer. Check the cost with the administrator.

EasyTouch blood cholesterol test strips

The EasyTouch blood cholesterol analyzer is designed to quantitatively measure the cholesterol level in a fresh capillary blood sample. The measurement is based on the determination of changes in electrical current caused by the reaction of cholesterol with a reagent at the strip electrode.

When the blood sample lightly touches the sample area on the strip, the blood automatically moves to the reaction area on the strip. The test result is automatically displayed on the display of the device after 150 seconds.

Measuring range:

Measuring range of EasyTouch device for determination of blood cholesterol level: 100-400 mg / dl or 2.6-10.4 mmol / l.

Reagents:

Each EasyTouch test strip contains the following reagents:

• Cholesterol oxidase ≥ 3.0 IU
• Non-reactive ingredients ≥ 2.1mg

Storage:

1. Store test strips at 4-30 ° C.
2. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. Do not freeze.
3. Do not use after expiration date.
4. Put the date on the container when it was opened.
5. Test strips must be used within 2 months from the date the container was opened.
6. Close the container lid tightly after removing the test strip.
7. Do not handle a test strip with wet or dirty hands.
8. Do not open, bend, scratch, or alter test strips in any way.

Determination of blood cholesterol level:

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Insert the scarifier into the lancet device. Prepare the lancing device according to the instructions.To determine your cholesterol level, do the following:

Step 1: Remove the test strip from the container; close the container lid tightly immediately. Insert the test strip into the corresponding test strip slot, the machine will turn on automatically. The display will show a code for a certain period of time. Make sure the code on the machine’s display matches the code on the test strip container. If the code does not match, code the device correctly.

Step 2: Sample application. Get a drop of blood according to the procedure described in the instructions. A drop symbol appears on the display, apply a blood sample to the sample area of ​​the test strip. The blood will automatically move to the reaction zone of the test strip. The reaction area on the test strip will turn completely red. Hold the test strip until you hear the machine beep. The machine starts measuring your cholesterol level.

Step 3: Review the results after 150 seconds.The result is saved in the memory of the device automatically. Remove the test strip, after a while the device will turn off automatically.

Test strips Cholesterol No. 25 for analyzer MultiCare-in

Cholesterol 25 test strips for the MultiCare-in analyzer are used to determine the level of cholesterol in the blood. Suitable for the MultiCare-in express analyzer.

Measurement technique:

Cholesterol test strips use an OTDR measurement method.The test is based on the reaction of the ingredients: Cholesterol oxidase / Cholesterol esterase, Peroxidase / Chromogen. The intensity of the color of the colored compound resulting from the reaction is proportional to the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood.

Ingredients:

The reagent area of ​​each test strip contains:

• chromogen 0.25 mg
• cholesterol esterase 0.8 IU *
• cholesterol oxidase 0.4 IU
• peroxidase 1.2 IU

* ME – mass unit.

Complete set:

1. 25 test strips.
2. Code-chip “Cholesterol”.
3. Instruction.

Storage:

Test strips must be used within 90 days after opening the vial or before the expiration date printed on the package (expiration date is valid if stored at t between 5 and 30 ° C (41-86 ° F).

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11418262012 Test strips Accutrend Cholesterol No. 25 (Accutrend Cholesterol) Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany

Test strips Accutrend Cholesterol No. 25

Also order consumables:

Test strips for determining glucose levels using the device “Accutrend Plus”:

Test strips for the quantitative determination of glucose levels on a portable biochemistry analyzer.Test material: fresh capillary blood. Required sample volume: 10 μL (one drop). The composition of the test zone per cm2: Glucose oxidase 12.5 U, bis- (2-hydroxy-ethyl) – (4-hydroxyimino-cyclohexa-2,5-dienylidine) -ammonium chloride 35.0 ng; 2,18-phosphomolybdic acid 191.4 ng; filler 8.1 ng. Measurement range: 20-600 mg / dL (1.1 – 33.3 mmol / L). Store at 2-30 ° C. Pack of 25 test strips, 1 code strip.

Test strips for determining the level of cholesterol using the device “Accutrend JC”

Test strips for the quantitative determination of cholesterol levels on a portable biochemistry analyzer.Test material: fresh capillary blood. Required sample volume: 10 μL (one drop).

Measurement range: 150-300 mg / dl (3.8 – 7.75 mmol / l). Store at 2-30 ° C. The package contains 25 test strips, 1 code strip.

Control solutions for Accutrend Control Glucose

Set for control measurements on a portable biochemistry analyzer and control studies using test strips for glucose determination.Material of two levels (control solution 1 with blue cap for checking low level (hypoglycemia), control solution 2 with red cap for checking high level (hyperglycemia). For 80 determinations. Pack: 2x4ml

Control solution for Accutrend Control Cholesterol

Control solution for control measurements on a portable biochemistry analyzer and control studies using test strips for determining cholesterol.Store unopened at 2-25 ° C until the date indicated on the package. After opening at 2-8 ° C – 3 months if stored and handled correctly. Designed for 30 definitions. Packing 1×1.5 ml.

The most optimal and favorable conditions for the purchase of diagnostic kits, consumables of both domestic and foreign manufacturers, test strips, etc. for health care facilities (regional, regional, republican, district, district, district hospitals; hospitals, medical and sanitary units, specialized hospitals – infectious, tuberculosis, neuropsychiatric, etc.); centers – drug rehabilitation, rehabilitation therapy, occupational pathology, etc., clinical diagnostic laboratories, dispensaries, veterinary clinics, gynecological centers, maternity hospitals, cosmetology rooms, dental clinics, drug dispensaries, hospices, research and scientific institutions, ambulance stations medical care, military hospitals, health resorts, hospitals for war veterans, State budgetary healthcare institutions, city clinics and hospitals of the Moscow Department of Health) can be purchased from us.

Wholesale order all consumables for clinical diagnostic laboratories (biochemical, immunological / virological, bacteriological, parasitological, virological, cytological, pathological, sanitary and hygienic, radioisotope, research, scientific and educational on the website http://medika.store /, send a request for an account by e-mail: [email protected]

Check with the managers for the availability and minimum order by phone +7 (926) 865-23-38.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL, HDL-Cholesterol) Test Strips – Consumables for the Element Multi

Portable Biochemistry Analyzer

Product Description

Using the Element Multi analyzer, it is possible not only to control all the most important lipid profile parameters, but also, if necessary, to conduct a study of only one of them. Such a need, for example, may arise if only one of the points of the lipid profile does not correspond to the norm and monitoring of this particular indicator is important, which means that you can not spend money on the lipid panel as a whole.

Caring for its customers, Infopia offers test strips for the quantitative determination of high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), an important indicator in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in whole blood.

Throughout the world, the spread of atherosclerotic vascular lesions, and with it coronary heart disease, is more like an epidemic process. The disease is getting younger before our eyes. Cholesterol plaques are often found in those who are only 20 years old.Research shows that today approximately 50% of people over the age of 30 die from causes associated with atherosclerosis.

In case of violation of fat metabolism in the human body, blood cholesterol becomes too much and its excess is deposited on the walls of arteries in the form of plaques. Cholesterol is a natural fatty alcohol that is found in almost all living organisms as part of cell membranes. If the metabolism of fats in the human body is disturbed, cholesterol in the blood becomes too much and its excess is deposited on the walls of the arteries in the form of plaques.Their size gradually increases, moreover, the damaged vessel is somewhat narrowed in diameter. When the lumen of an artery is closed by about three-quarters, a violation of the blood supply to one or another organ becomes clinically noticeable, because their functioning is impaired. Most often, those organs that most need oxygen are affected by atherosclerotic lesions, since their activity is much more active – these are the brain, myocardium, kidneys, and lower extremities.

Cholesterol in the blood binds in complexes with proteins, forming high and low density lipoproteins.Low-density lipoproteins – LDL – are involved in the delivery of cholesterol to the organs concerned, but at the same time it can be deposited on the walls of blood vessels. That is why they are called “bad” cholesterol.

High density lipoproteins – HDL – deliver excess cholesterol to the liver, after which it leaves the body through the intestines. The greater the amount of these substances in the human body, the lower the risk of developing atherosclerotic vascular lesions. Accordingly, the second name for high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) is “good” cholesterol.

With the help of Element Multi test strips, you can determine the level of high density cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) in the range – from 0.6 to 2.08 mmol / l, which fully satisfies both the needs of self-control and the needs of medical laboratories.

High density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) test strips are used for self-monitoring at home and in clinical laboratories, only with the Element Multi analyzer.

Test strips must be used within the expiration date printed on the package, or within three months after opening the test strip vial.

Storage conditions for high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) test strips should be stored at 2 – 30 ° C, avoid freezing and / or direct sunlight.