Blood Cholesterol Test
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance made by the liver. There are two main types of cholesterol:
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL), bad cholesterol
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL), good cholesterol.
A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of each type of cholesterol and certain fats in the blood.
When is the cholesterol blood test prescribed?
A doctor may prescribe a cholesterol test
- To patients with high blood pressure
- To patients with Type 2 diabetes
- To obese and patients with cardiovascular diseases
- To patients with symptoms of heart disease or diabetes due to intake of high saturated fat diet, lack of physical activity or excessive smoking
What are the components of cholesterol blood test?
- LDL levels. Also known as bad cholesterol which causes blockages in the arteries.
- HDL levels. Also known as good cholesterol which helps to get rid of bad LDL cholesterol.
- Total cholesterol. It is the total amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the blood.
- Triglycerides High levels of triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease.
- VLDL levels. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is another type of "bad" cholesterol that is linked with plaque in the arteries.
Procedure and prerequisites
Do not eat or drink anything other than water for 8-12 hours before the test. A blood sample is taken from the vein.
Reference range
| Normal range |
Less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) |
| Border line High |
Between 200 and 239 mg/dL |
| High |
240 mg/dL above |