Cholesterol test

Date Updated: 05/15/2021

Overview

A complete cholesterol test — also called a lipid panel or lipid profile — is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

A cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis).

A cholesterol test is an important tool. High cholesterol levels often are a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Why it's done

High cholesterol usually causes no signs or symptoms. A complete cholesterol test is done to determine whether your cholesterol is high and to estimate your risk of heart attacks and other forms of heart disease and diseases of the blood vessels.

A complete cholesterol test includes the calculation of four types of fats in your blood:

Total cholesterol. This is a sum of your blood's cholesterol content.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is called the "bad" cholesterol. Too much of it in your blood causes the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which reduces blood flow. These plaques sometimes rupture and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This is called the "good" cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL cholesterol, thus keeping arteries open and your blood flowing more freely.
Triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. When you eat, your body converts calories it doesn't need into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. High triglyceride levels are associated with several factors, including being overweight, eating too many sweets or drinking too much alcohol, smoking, being sedentary, or having diabetes with elevated blood sugar levels.

Who should get a cholesterol test?

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a person's first cholesterol screening should occur between the ages of 9 and 11 and then be repeated every five years after that.

The NHLBI recommends that cholesterol screenings occur every 1 to 2 years for men ages 45 to 65 and for women ages 55 to 65. People over 65 should receive cholesterol tests annually.

More-frequent testing might be needed if your initial test results were abnormal or if you already have coronary artery disease, you're taking cholesterol-lowering medications or you're at higher risk of coronary artery disease because you:

Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart attacks
Are overweight
Are physically inactive
Have diabetes
Eat an unhealthy diet
Smoke cigarettes

People undergoing treatment for high cholesterol require regular cholesterol testing to monitor the effectiveness of their treatments.

Risks

There's little risk in getting a cholesterol test. You might have soreness or tenderness around the site where your blood is drawn. Rarely, the site can become infected.

How you prepare

You're generally required to fast, consuming no food or liquids other than water, for nine to 12 hours before the test. Some cholesterol tests don't require fasting, so follow your doctor's instructions.

What you can expect

During the procedure

A cholesterol test is a blood test, usually done in the morning if you fast overnight. Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from your arm.

Before the needle is inserted, the puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic and an elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. This causes the veins in your arm to fill with blood.

After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a vial or syringe. The band is then removed to restore circulation, and blood continues to flow into the vial. Once enough blood is collected, the needle is removed and the puncture site is covered with a bandage.

The procedure will likely take a couple of minutes. It's relatively painless.

After the procedure

There are no precautions you need to take after your cholesterol test. You should be able to drive yourself home and do all your normal activities. If you've been fasting, you might want to bring a snack to eat after your cholesterol test is done.

Results

In the United States, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. In Canada and many European countries, cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L). To interpret your test results, use these general guidelines.

Total cholesterol(U.S. and some other countries)	Total cholesterol*(Canada and most of Europe)
Below 200 mg/dL	Below 5.18 mmol/L	Desirable
200-239 mg/dL	5.18-6.18 mmol/L	Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above	Above 6.18 mmol/L	High

LDL cholesterol(U.S. and some other countries)	LDL cholesterol*(Canada and most of Europe)
Below 70 mg/dL	Below 1.8 mmol/L	Best for people who have coronary artery disease — including a history of heart attacks, angina, stents or coronary bypass.
Below 100 mg/dL	Below 2.6 mmol/L	Optimal for people at risk of coronary artery disease or who have a history of diabetes. Near optimal for people with uncomplicated coronary artery disease.
100-129 mg/dL	2.6-3.3 mmol/L	Near optimal if there is no coronary artery disease. High if there is coronary artery disease.
130-159 mg/dL	3.4-4.1 mmol/L	Borderline high if there is no coronary artery disease. High if there is coronary artery disease.
160-189 mg/dL	4.1-4.9 mmol/L	High if there is no coronary artery disease. Very high if there is coronary artery disease.
190 mg/dL and above	Above 4.9 mmol/L	Very high.

HDL cholesterol(U.S. and some other countries)	HDL cholesterol*(Canada and most of Europe)
Below 40 mg/dL, men Below 50 mg/dL, women	Below 1 mmol/L, men Below 1.3 mmol/L, women	Poor
40-59 mg/dL, men 50-59 mg/dL, women	1-1.5 mmol/L, men 1.3-1.5 mmol/L, women	Better
60 mg/dL and above	Above 1.5 mmol/L	Best

Triglycerides(U.S. and some other countries)	Triglycerides*(Canada and most of Europe)
Below 150 mg/dL	Below 1.7 mmol/L	Desirable
150-199 mg/dL	1.7-2.2 mmol/L	Borderline high
200-499 mg/dL	2.3-5.6 mmol/L	High
500 mg/dL and above	Above 5.6 mmol/L	Very high

*Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines.

If your results show that your cholesterol level is high, don't get discouraged. You might be able to lower your cholesterol with lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising and eating a healthy diet.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough, cholesterol-lowering medications also might help. Talk to your doctor about the best way for you to lower your cholesterol.