Lipid profile, also known as lipid panel, is a routine blood test used by healthcare professionals to assess and monitor the risk of cardiovascular disease. This test measures cholesterol levels in three different ways and also includes a measurement of triglyceride levels.
Also Known as: Coronary Risk Panel, Lipid Profile, Fasting Lipid Panel, Non-fasting Lipid Panel, Cholesterol Panel, Lipid Test
Test Panel: Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, VLDL Cholesterol, Non-High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
The lipid profile measures the levels of specific fat molecules, known as lipids, in the bloodstream. This comprehensive test evaluates multiple substances, including different types of cholesterol-containing molecules.
It is used in both children and adults to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Why Get Tested:
- Evaluate cardiovascular health: Analyzes cholesterol levels in the blood to assess the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.
- Diagnosis: Helps diagnose conditions that affect cholesterol levels, such as liver diseases.
- Screening: Routine testing to check if cholesterol levels are normal or fall into risk categories (borderline, intermediate, high).
- Monitoring: Tracks cholesterol levels for individuals with previous abnormal results or other heart disease risk factors.
- Measuring response to treatment: Evaluates the effectiveness of lifestyle changes or cholesterol-lowering medications.
When to get Tested:
A lipid panel test is appropriate in several situations, depending on the medical context:
Screening:
- For adults with no risk factors: every 4 to 6 years.
- For children, teens, and young adults: once between ages 9 and 11, and again between ages 17 and 21.
Monitoring:
- At regular intervals for individuals with risk factors.
- When previous results indicated high risk levels.
- To assess the effectiveness of treatment.
Sample Required:
- This is done ideally on fasting serum of the patient. Venous blood is taken.
- Fasting for 12 to 14 hours is required.
- Plasma with EDTA can be used.
- The sample is stable at 4 °C for 7 days and at -20 °C for 3 months.
- If plasma is used then multiply the result by 1.03.
What are the Components of a Lipid Profile Test?
- Total cholesterol—measures all the cholesterol in all the lipoprotein particles
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)—measures the cholesterol in HDL particles; often called “good cholesterol” because HDL-C takes up excess cholesterol and carries it to the liver for removal.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—calculates or measures the cholesterol in LDL particles; often called “bad cholesterol” because it deposits excess cholesterol in walls of blood vessels, which can contribute to atherosclerosis. Usually, the amount of LDL-C is calculated using the results of total cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglycerides.
- Triglycerides—measures all the triglycerides in all the lipoprotein particles; most is in the very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL).
Some other information may be reported as part of the lipid panel. These parameters are calculated from the results of the tests listed above.
- Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)—calculated from triglycerides/5; this formula is based on the typical composition of VLDL particles.
