Lipid Profile Test

Lipid Profile Test

Lipid Profile is a panel of blood tests that serves as an initial tool for abnormalities in lipid, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. The lipid panel is used as part of cardiac risk assessment to help determine your risk of heart disease and to make decisions about what treatment may be best if you have a borderline, intermediate or high risk.

The result of the lipid panel are considered along with other known risk factors of heart disease to develop a plan of treatment and follow up. Depending on the results risk factors, treatment options may be involve changes such as diet and exercise or medications that lower lipid level, typically statins.

Additionally a lipid panel may be used to monitor whether treatment has been effective in lowering levels.

When is the Lipid Profile Test prescribed?

It is recommended as a part of routine check-up for healthy adults. To detect various cardiac diseases, in patients with diabetes, obesity, in smokers, in coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, or stroke.

What Lipid profile detects?

Non HDL-C (Calculated as total C-HDLC) represents the sum of cholesterol carried by all potentially atherogenic, apo B- containing lipoprotein particles, including LDL, LDL, Lp(a) VLDL (including VLDL remnants), and chylomicron particles and remnants.

An elevated level of cholesterol carried by circulating apolipoprotein (apo) B- containing  lipoproteins (non-HDL-C & LDL-C, termed atherogenic cholesterol) is a root cause of atherosclerosis/ASCVD. HDL-C is responsible for lowering peripheral tissue cholesterol (reverse transport), in turn reducing risk of ASCVD.

Apolipoprotein B, hsCRP, Lp(a) and LP-PLA2 testing should be considered in patients with moderate risk of ASCDV.

In all adults, (>20 Years of age), a fasting or non-fasting lipid profile should be obtained at least every 5 years. At a minimum, this should include total cholesterol and HDL-C which allows calculation of NON-HDL-C (Total-C-HDL-C). If fasting, (generally 9-12 hrs) the LDL-C Level may be calculated, provided that the triglyceride concentration is <400 mg/dl.

Apo B is considered as an optimal secondary target for treatment. Epidemiologic studies have generally shown that both apo B & non-HDL-C are better predictors of ASCVD risk than LDL-C. Apo B and non HDL-C share the advantage that neither requires fasting sample for accurate assessments.

Elevated triglycerides level is not a target of therapy per se, except when very high (>500 mg/dL). When triglycerides are between 200 and 499 mg/dl, the target of therapy are non- HDL-C and LDL-C. When triglycerides are very high (>500 mg/dl, and especially if >1000 mg/dl). Reduction to <500 mg/dl to prevent pancreatitis becomes the primary goal of therapy.

Reference Range

If a doctor prescribes this test, you can book an appointment at your nearest Pathology lab. The lipid profile test price may vary depending on the location. You can also check lipid profile test prices online for the place from where you're getting tested.