ApoB test
ApoB is a protein sitting on every particle that carries cholesterol through your blood. Exactly one per particle. Measuring ApoB therefore means counting those particles, and that count says more than how much cholesterol they hold.
Picture two people with exactly the same LDL cholesterol. One carries that cholesterol across many small particles, the other across fewer large ones. The particle count differs while the measured cholesterol is identical. LDL cannot see that difference. ApoB can.
That is why ApoB is increasingly seen as the most usable lipid marker in preventive practice. It is one assay, from the same tube as the rest of your lipid profile.
Add ApoB to your lipids?
Message whether you have had cholesterol measured before and what came out. Mario can then say whether ApoB and Lp(a) add anything in your case.
Reachable Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 18:00. An appointment can usually be scheduled within a few days.
When to measure this
- If you have had lipids measured and want a sharper picture.
- If cardiovascular disease runs in your family. Include Lp(a) once.
- If your LDL is normal but your triglycerides are high. Particle count can then be higher than LDL suggests.
- If you want to steer preventively and compare across years. See longevity and prevention.
What is actually drawn
ApoB is best determined alongside the full lipid profile, because the comparison against LDL and non-HDL is what completes the picture.
Preparation
Fasting, at least 8 hours. ApoB itself is less sensitive to eating than triglycerides, but since it is almost always drawn alongside the rest of the lipid profile, fasting is the practical choice. No alcohol the night before.
Which package includes this
Measuring this marker on its own is possible too. In practice ApoB is determined alongside the lipid profile, because the comparison is where the value sits. For reference, providers with a collection point typically charge 59 to 69 euro for a single marker, and you travel there yourself.
These are the actual amounts. The lab cost is what the lab charges, passed on without a markup. There is no discounted-from price and no subscription. Enter your address in the price calculator for the exact total including travel.
What your result means
You get the lab reference and the target range used in preventive practice. That target sits below the lab ceiling, because prevention is not about whether something is abnormal but about where you want to end up over decades.
A raised ApoB is not a diagnosis and does not mean something is wrong. It is a fact about your risk profile that you can act on for years, and re-measure in three months to see whether it moves.
On the difference between a lab reference and a target range, see this article. If you feel unwell while your value sits inside the reference, read this one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ApoB and LDL cholesterol?
ApoB counts particles, LDL measures the cholesterol inside them.
Every cholesterol-carrying particle holds exactly one ApoB. At the same LDL the particle count can differ, and that count is what matters.
Why does my GP not order ApoB?
Because it is not standard in the guideline.
GPs work with the classic lipid profile. ApoB is common in preventive practice, but without an indication there is no reason to order it. You can measure it yourself.
Do I need to fast?
Yes, in practice.
ApoB itself is less sensitive to eating, but it is almost always drawn alongside triglycerides, which are. Keep 8 hours.
Should I add Lp(a)?
Once in your life, yes.
Lp(a) is largely genetic and barely changes. One measurement is enough, and roughly one in five people has a raised value without knowing it.
How often should I repeat ApoB?
After 8 to 12 weeks if you change something, otherwise annually.
ApoB moves more slowly than triglycerides. Repeating sooner usually shows too little difference to conclude anything.
Note: a blood test gives you insight and direction. It does not prove or rule out a condition on its own. Results are meant for prevention and for tracking change over time, not as a diagnosis. For symptoms or values outside the reference range, see your GP.