Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel

About this test

A lipid panel measures the main types of fat (lipids) in your blood to help assess your risk for heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). It's one of the most commonly ordered tests for adults and is typically repeated every 4–6 years for healthy adults, or more frequently if you have risk factors or are on cholesterol-lowering treatment.

Dietary fat and fasting status affect the results — fasting for 8–12 hours before the draw is recommended for the most accurate triglyceride and LDL measurement. Results should be reviewed in context of your blood pressure, blood sugar, smoking status, family history, and age to get an accurate picture of your overall cardiovascular risk.

Components

• Total Cholesterol: The combined amount of all cholesterol types in your blood. A useful starting figure, but it must be interpreted alongside the breakdown of HDL and LDL, not on its own.
• HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein): Often called good cholesterol because it carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver for processing. Higher HDL is protective — generally, the higher the better.
• LDL Cholesterol (Low-Density Lipoprotein): Often called bad cholesterol because elevated levels can deposit in artery walls and lead to plaque buildup. LDL is the primary target of most cholesterol-lowering treatments.
• Triglycerides: A form of fat stored for energy. High triglycerides are linked to increased cardiovascular risk and are often driven by excess sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, obesity, or poorly controlled diabetes.
• Cholesterol/HDL Ratio and Non-HDL Cholesterol: Calculated values that give a more nuanced look at cardiovascular risk than any single number alone.

Who is this test for?

Major medical guidelines recommend cholesterol screening for all adults starting at age 20, with follow-up every four to six years if results are normal. More frequent testing is suggested for anyone with a family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or a personal history of elevated cholesterol. This test is also used routinely to monitor people taking cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins.