Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood draw
- Fasting: Fasting for 9-12 hours is recommended. Avoid alcohol and heavy exercise for 24 hours before testing.
- Turnaround: 1-2 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays
What's Included
Lipid Panel
- Total Cholesterol: Overall cholesterol level in your blood
- HDL Cholesterol: Often called "good" cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol: Calculated "bad" cholesterol value
- Non-HDL Cholesterol: Total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol
- VLDL Cholesterol (Calculated): Estimated very low density lipoprotein level
- Triglycerides: Fat levels circulating in your blood
- Cholesterol/HDL Ratio: Ratio comparing total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol
- LDL/HDL Ratio: Ratio comparing LDL to HDL cholesterol
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Glucose: Blood sugar level
- BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Marker of kidney function
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio: Ratio used to assess kidney function
- Creatinine: Waste product filtered by the kidneys
- eGFR: Estimated measure of kidney filtration rate
- Sodium: Electrolyte level
- Potassium: Electrolyte level
- Chloride: Electrolyte level
- Carbon Dioxide, Total: Electrolyte level related to acid-base balance
- Calcium: Mineral level in the blood
- Albumin: Protein produced by the liver
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio: Ratio comparing two blood protein types
- Globulin, Total: Group of proteins related to immune function
- Protein, Total: Combined albumin and globulin level
- Alkaline Phosphatase: Enzyme related to liver and bone function
- ALT (SGPT): Liver enzyme
- AST (SGOT): Liver enzyme
- Bilirubin, Total: Byproduct of red blood cell breakdown, related to liver function
Creatine Kinase
Benefits
- Tracks how your body responds to cholesterol-lowering treatment over time
- Monitors kidney and liver function alongside your lipid results
- Includes creatine kinase to help monitor statin-related muscle enzyme changes
- Gives you convenient, lab-quality results without an office visit
- Supports ongoing cardiovascular health awareness between provider visits
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals currently taking cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins
- People with previous high cholesterol results who need follow-up monitoring
- Those making lifestyle changes aimed at supporting heart health
- Adults managing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or metabolic syndrome
- Health-conscious individuals interested in regular cardiovascular monitoring
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This panel measures your lipid profile, including total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, alongside a comprehensive metabolic panel that evaluates kidney and liver function. It also includes creatine kinase to help monitor muscle enzyme activity related to statin use. Together, these markers give a broader picture of how your cardiovascular treatment and overall metabolic health are trending. This panel is intended for monitoring purposes and does not diagnose any condition on its own.
2. Who would benefit from this test, and when should I order it?
This test is well suited for individuals currently on cholesterol-lowering medication, people with a history of elevated cholesterol, and those making lifestyle changes to support heart health. It may also be useful for adults managing diabetes, high blood pressure, or metabolic syndrome, as well as anyone interested in ongoing cardiovascular monitoring. You might consider ordering it as part of routine follow-up after an earlier cholesterol screening, while monitoring the effects of statin therapy or lifestyle changes, or as part of general cardiovascular health monitoring.
3. How do I prepare for this test?
Fasting for 9 to 12 hours is recommended before your blood draw, drinking only water during this period. Avoid alcohol and heavy exercise for 24 hours before testing. Continue taking prescribed medications unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider, and do not stop prescribed medication unless instructed by your healthcare provider. Inform the lab about current medications, as some may affect lipid levels.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Results are typically available in 1-2 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
5. How do I interpret the results?
Rather than focusing on a single number, it's often more useful to look at patterns across your lipid, metabolic, and muscle enzyme results together. Your healthcare provider is best positioned to interpret these results in the context of your overall health, medications, and risk factors.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
6. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
If any of your results fall outside the expected range, share them with your healthcare provider. They can help determine whether any changes to your treatment or lifestyle plan are needed.
7. How often should I get tested?
How often you should be retested depends on your individual health history, current treatment, and risk factors. Your healthcare provider can recommend a monitoring schedule.
8. Why does regular monitoring matter?
Regular monitoring of your lipid, metabolic, and muscle enzyme levels may help you and your healthcare provider identify changes earlier, so adjustments to treatment or lifestyle can be considered sooner. Ongoing monitoring is one part of a broader approach to supporting cardiovascular health over time.
Pre-test preparation
Fasting for 9-12 hours is recommended before your blood draw, drinking only water during this period. Avoid alcohol and heavy exercise for 24 hours before testing. Continue taking prescribed medications unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider.
