Test Description

The lipid profile is comprised of four tests, total cholesterol, HDL-direct, LDL-direct and triglycerides and are often ordered with other cardiovascular markers to assess your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or to monitor treatment. Cholesterol and triglycerides are transported in the blood by LDL and/or HDL. LDL is the bad cholesterol which calculates cholesterol in all of the LDL particles. It deposits excess cholesterol in the walls of the arteries thus, high levels are associated with atherosclerosis. HDL is the good cholesterol and it removes excess cholesterol from the blood and carries it to the liver for disposal.

LDL Direct is used to help determine your risk of developing heart disease and to monitor lipid-lowering lifestyle changes and drug therapies; to accurately determine your low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level when you are not fasting.

When should this test be ordered?
This test may be ordered at part of an annual health check up, even in healthy adults to assess high or borderline risk for cardiovascular disease. This test is also used for monitoring purposes or with know risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease which may include, smoking, low HDL cholesterol, family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, or over for males over 45 and females over 50.
High Risk · >= 130 (mg/dL)
Follow NCEP: ATPIII guidelines. Dietary strategies to consider include adequate intake of monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, moderate alcohol intake, reduction of total carbohydrate to less than 50% of calories, emphasis on low glycemic-load foods and reduction of fructose, weight loss and regular exercise.
Borderline Risk · 100-129 (mg/dL)
Follow NCEP: ATPIII guidelines. Dietary strategies to consider include adequate intake of monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, moderate alcohol intake, reduction of total carbohydrate to less than 50% of calories, emphasis on low glycemic-load foods and reduction of fructose, weight loss and regular exercise.
Low Risk · 0-99 (mg/dL)
Within Reference Range.
Testing Method Used
Enzymatic-colormetric.

Sample is stable for 7 days at 2-8°C.

Please ship samples daily.
Improvements and Prevention
According to the AHA, a heart healthy diet consists of eating no more than 7% of saturated fat of your daily caloric intake. They also recommend limiting trans-fats, eat lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies. Getting at least 30 minutes per day of physical activity may also reduce your cardiovascular disease risk.
Specimen Type
Serum
Fasting Required
Yes
Drawing and Processing
  1. Draw from a vein into a SST tubetube1
  2. Invert tube (do not shake) 1-2 times to mix adequately
  3. Let stand upright in tube rack for 30 minutes
  4. Centrifuge for 15 minutes at 3300rpm
  5. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 1 hour
  6. Keep cold in a refrigerator to maintain stability, until ready to ship
Shipping Instructions
  1. Freeze ice packs 24 hours prior to use
  2. Place ice packs inside the Styrofoam insulated kit
  3. Place processed tubes inside biohazard bag, place inside kit
  4. Seal box, print airbill and adhere to box and wait for courier to pick up
Rejection Criteria
QNS; temperature out of range upon receipt; grossly hemolyzed; if grossly lipemic, will run as a diluted sam-ple; wrong specimen type; sample stability exceeded for this analyte; unlabeled or mislabeled specimen
References
1. Executive summary.  Third report of the expert panel on the detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (adult treatment panel III). Bethesda, Md.: National Heart, Lung, and blood Institute.
2. What is cholesterol? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbc/.
The information provided here is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used or substituted as medical advice. You should consult a healthcare practitioner regarding medical diagnosis or treatment.