Cholesterol test: the full lipid profile
Cholesterol is not a single number. The standard profile consists of four values, and a fifth makes the picture genuinely usable. All of it comes from one tube.
The standard profile contains total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Non-HDL is calculated from those, simply total minus HDL, covering all particles associated with vascular damage.
What is usually missing is ApoB. LDL measures how much cholesterol sits in the particles. ApoB counts the particles themselves, and each carries exactly one ApoB molecule. Two people with the same LDL can have a different particle count. See the ApoB page.
Cholesterol alone, or with ApoB?
Message your situation. If your GP already measured lipids, adding ApoB and Lp(a) usually tells you more than repeating the same profile.
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 never had lipids measured. A baseline underpins everything after it.
- If cardiovascular disease runs in your family. Include Lp(a), which you measure only once.
- If you changed your diet and want to see whether it worked. Measure after 8 to 12 weeks.
- With excess weight, high blood pressure or raised blood sugar.
- As part of a broader check. See the check-up page.
What is actually drawn
In the Cardiovascular Risk package these seven sit alongside glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, homocysteine and hs-CRP.
Preparation
Fasting, at least 8 hours without food. That matters most for triglycerides, which rise sharply after a meal. Water is fine and helps the draw. No alcohol the night before, as it raises triglycerides. Because the draw happens at your home, you do not have to travel while fasting.
Which package includes this
Measuring this marker on its own is possible too. The full profile is determined in one go, because individual values say little without the rest. 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 per value. For lipids those sit far apart, because the lab reference reflects the spread in a population while the target range reflects what is desirable for your long-term risk.
A result above the target range does not demonstrate a condition. It is something you can act on and re-measure in three months. Substantially raised values belong in a conversation with your GP.
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
Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Yes, at least 8 hours.
Mostly for triglycerides, which rise sharply after a meal. Water is fine. No alcohol the night before.
What is non-HDL and why is it listed?
Total cholesterol minus HDL.
It covers all particles associated with vascular damage, not only LDL. It is a better summary than LDL alone and requires no extra assay.
Why is ApoB better than LDL?
ApoB counts particles, LDL measures their contents.
At the same LDL the particle count can differ considerably, and the count is what makes the difference.
How soon do I see the effect of a dietary change?
After roughly 8 to 12 weeks.
Triglycerides respond faster, sometimes within weeks. LDL and ApoB move more slowly.
Should I measure Lp(a) too?
Once, yes.
Lp(a) is largely genetic and barely changes. Once you know your value there is no need to repeat it. It is rarely in a standard GP panel.
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.