Cholesterol Test

At Life Line Screening, we help you manage your cholesterol levels with the complete lipid panel, a simple finger-stick screening. This comprehensive screening measures 3 different kinds of lipids in the blood: HDL (“good” cholesterol), LDL (“bad” cholesterol), and triglycerides. In addition, the complete lipid panel also measures total cholesterol—the combined amount of these 3 lipids. Lipid levels are important factors in determining your overall heart health. Get more information about high cholesterol. 

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What you can learn

Once you have your results, you can compare them to the guidelines. The goal is to prevent illness and death from coronary heart disease by reducing high cholesterol. If your cholesterol is anything but optimal, you may want to meet with your doctor to discuss ways to improve your cholesterol levels.

Our cholesterol screenings relate to the NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommendations.

 

Total Cholesterol LDL Cholesterol HDL Cholesterol Tryglicerides

Less than 5.0 mmol/l Less than 3.0 mmol/l   More than 1.0 mmol/l (men) More than 1.2 mmol/l (women)                               Less than 1.7 mmol/l

 

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Who should get screened and how often?

• In adults with no symptoms, cholesterol screening should take place every 5 years starting at age 20

• Patients with heart disease or abnormal lipid levels should be screened every 1 to 2 years
   
• Those on medication to lower cholesterol should be screened every 6 weeks until lipid goals are met, and every 4 to 6 months thereafter

In addition, it is recommended that all adults receive a complete lipid panel every year.

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How to prepare

You must fast for 8 hours prior to a cholesterol screening.