Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood draw
- Fasting: Fast for 12–14 hours, drinking only water. Maintain a stable diet for 2–3 weeks before testing, and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before collection.
- Turnaround: 3–5 business days. May take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
What's Included
Lipid Panel
- Cholesterol, Total: your overall cholesterol level in the blood
- HDL Cholesterol: the "good" cholesterol that helps clear other cholesterol from your bloodstream
- LDL Cholesterol: the "bad" cholesterol linked to plaque buildup in the arteries
- LDL Chol Calc (NIH): a calculated LDL cholesterol value using the NIH formula
- Non HDL Cholesterol: total cholesterol minus HDL, reflecting all potentially harmful cholesterol types
- VLDL Cholesterol Cal: a calculated measure of very low density lipoprotein cholesterol
- Triglycerides: fat levels in your blood linked to cardiovascular risk
- Chol/HDLC Ratio: the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol
Metabolic Panel
- Glucose: your fasting blood sugar level
- Kidney Function
- BUN: a waste product marker used to assess kidney function
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio: a calculated ratio used to evaluate kidney function
- Creatinine: a waste product marker used to assess kidney function
- eGFR: an estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering blood
- Uric Acid: a waste product that can affect kidney and metabolic health
- Electrolytes
- Sodium: an electrolyte that supports fluid balance
- Potassium: an electrolyte important for heart and muscle function
- Chloride: an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance
- Carbon Dioxide, Total: a marker of your body's acid-base balance
- Calcium: a mineral involved in bone, muscle, and nerve function
- Liver Function
- Albumin: a protein that reflects liver and nutritional status
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio: a calculated ratio comparing two key blood proteins
- Globulin, Total: a group of proteins involved in liver and immune function
- Protein, Total: the combined level of albumin and globulin in your blood
- Bilirubin, Total: a marker used to assess liver function
- Alkaline Phosphatase: an enzyme used to evaluate liver and bone health
- ALT (SGPT): a liver enzyme used to assess liver function
- AST (SGOT): a liver enzyme used to assess liver function
Inflammation Marker
Benefits
- Screens cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation markers in one panel
- Supports early awareness of cardiovascular risk factors
- Provides a baseline for tracking changes over time
- Offers secure, confidential access to your results online
- Gives you data to discuss with your healthcare provider
- Convenient ordering without a physician referral required
Who Is This Test For?
- Adults wanting to establish a cardiovascular health baseline
- People with a family history of heart disease or stroke
- Individuals managing risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure
- Health-conscious individuals tracking lifestyle or dietary changes
- Those interested in monitoring cholesterol and metabolic markers over time
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 combines a lipid profile, a metabolic panel, and a cardiac inflammation marker to give you a broader picture of factors linked to cardiovascular health. Together, these biomarkers reflect cholesterol balance, kidney and liver function, electrolyte status, blood sugar, and inflammation. It is intended for screening and 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 panel may be useful for adults who want a general baseline of their cardiovascular and metabolic health, including those with a family history of heart disease or existing risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure. You might consider it when establishing that baseline, before making lifestyle changes you want to track, or as part of ongoing monitoring alongside your healthcare provider's guidance. It can also help health-conscious individuals see how lifestyle habits relate to these biomarkers over time, and it can support periodic screening as part of a broader health routine.
3. Do I need to fast before this test?
Yes. This test recommends fasting for 12–14 hours, consuming only water during this period, and maintaining a stable diet for 2–3 weeks beforehand. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment, as it can affect certain measurements. Scheduling your appointment for morning hours when possible can make fasting more convenient, and comfortable clothing with easily accessible sleeves will help with the blood draw. Do not stop prescribed medication unless instructed by your healthcare provider.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Results are typically available in 3–5 days, though this may take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
5. How do I interpret the results?
Your results will include reference ranges for each biomarker. Rather than focusing on a single value, it's often more meaningful to look at patterns across related biomarkers, such as your lipid panel or liver markers together. Your healthcare provider can help you understand what your specific results mean in the context of your overall health.
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?
Share your results with a healthcare provider, who can help determine whether any follow-up testing or care is appropriate.
7. How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on your individual health profile and risk factors. Follow up as directed by your healthcare provider to determine what schedule makes sense for you.
8. Why does early detection matter?
Monitoring biomarkers like cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation over time may help support earlier awareness of changes in your cardiovascular health. This can give you and your healthcare provider more information to guide ongoing care and lifestyle decisions.
Pre-test preparation
Maintain a stable diet for 2–3 weeks before your blood collection, and fast for 12–14 hours prior, consuming only water during this period. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment, as it can affect certain measurements.
