Cholesterol Level Test

What is a Cholesterol Level Test?

Blood cholesterol levels are measured with a simple blood test. A blood sample is taken and used to determine the amount of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and triglycerides (other fatty substances) in your blood.

Before these tests, you may be asked not to eat for 10-12, this includes the time when you are asleep at night. This ensures that any food you have ingested is fully digested and will not affect the test.

A newer type of test that measures non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) is being used more often as its thought to be more accurate in estimating cardiovascular disease risk than LDL.

Who should be tested?

You may have your blood cholesterol levels tested if you have the following medical history/background:

• You have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke or mini stroke or peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• You are over 40 years of age
• You have a family history of early cardiovascular disease
• You have a family member who has a cholesterol-related condition
• You are overweight or obese
• You have a high blood pressure or diabetes
• You have another medical condition such as kidney disease