Cholesterol and Lipid Panel
Lipids (also known as fatty substances) can tell you a lot about the state of your overall health. For example, high levels of “bad” or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease; however, high levels of “good” or HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol can actually reduce your risk by removing excess LDL from the body.
This cholesterol and lipids panel measures the fatty substances used in the body as energy that contribute to heart health (including cholesterol and triglycerides) to help assess the risk of heart disease.
Preparation
Fast for 12 hours (no food or drink, except water).
What's Included
A measure of the total sum of cholesterol (LDL, HDL, and VLDL) in the body.
Measures the amount of LDL in the blood, known as the “bad” cholesterol because LDL particles can build up in the walls of your arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Measures the amount of VLDL in blood, the cholesterol from particles that carry triglycerides in the body that are then converted to LDL. Elevated VLDL levels can increase your risk of heart disease.
Measures the amount of HDL in the blood, known as "good" cholesterol because it comes from particles that remove "bad "cholesterol from the body, which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Measures the number of triglycerides in the blood, a type of fat that circulates in your blood and comes from adipose, the primary fat stored from food used to supply your energy. High triglyceride levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
Why Consider This Test
Wellness Recommendations
Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years.1
Family History
Cholesterol tests can be appropriate for a healthy person, especially when there is a family history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.1
Prevention Power
By living a healthy lifestyle, you can lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack. A healthy lifestyle includes:2
• Eating a healthy diet.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Getting enough physical activity.
• Not smoking or using other forms of tobacco.
• Limiting alcohol use.
References
- “Getting Your Cholesterol Checked.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/cholesterol_screening.htm. Last reviewed February 9, 2018.
- “Heart Disease Prevention with Healthy Living Habits.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/healthy_living.htm. Last reviewed August 10, 2015. Last updated August 10, 2015.
How It Works
1. Choose your tests
Shop for tests and pay online. An independent physician will review and approve your test requests; no doctor’s visit is required.
2. Provide Your Sample
Take the requisition number we emailed you, along with a photo ID, to a LabCorp location for sample collection.
3. Access your results online
View your easy-to-read results online in your Pixel by LabCorp account. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
Packages With This Test
You want more from your health screening. We get it—that’s why we offer it.
You take care of everything else—let us help you take care of you.
Strength, health and vitality. If it’s important to you, so are the measures that help you achieve it.
Start with your heart— it’s the powerhouse of your cardiovascular system after all.
Managing diabetes just got a whole lot easier.
How To Get This Test
1. Purchase your tests
Shop for tests and pay online. We do not bill insurance.
An independent physician will review and approve your test requests; no doctor’s visit is required.
2. Visit a LabCorp location
We'll email you your lab requisition number. Bring this number and photo ID to a LabCorp location for sample collection. You can make an appointment or just walk in.
3. Access your results online
View your easy-to-read results online in your Pixel by LabCorp account. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
Getting My Results
We've made getting your results easier and more convenient than ever. View your easy-to-read results online in your Pixel by LabCorp account. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail. To view a sample report click the "sample report" button below.
