Quick Facts
- Sample: Venous blood draw (small volume required)
- Fasting: No fasting required for A1C; lipid panel increasingly fasting-optional
- Turn-around: Results typically available within 1-2 businsess days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Two essential screenings in one convenient blood draw - saves time and money
- Comprehensive cardiovascular and diabetes risk assessment - addresses interconnected health concerns
- Early detection capabilities - identify prediabetes and dyslipidemia before symptoms appear
- Direct-to-consumer convenience - no physician order required, results delivered via secure portal
- Cost-effective screening - significantly less expensive than traditional healthcare settings
- Proactive health monitoring - enables lifestyle interventions before conditions progress
Who Is This Test For?
- Adults over 45 seeking routine health screening
- Individuals with family history of diabetes or heart disease
- People with obesity, hypertension, or multiple risk factors
- Those monitoring existing diabetes or prediabetes conditions
- Health-conscious consumers wanting proactive cardiovascular assessment
- Anyone with symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, or irregular heartbeats
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online - No physician referral needed; schedule at your convenience
- Visit lab for blood draw - Quick venous blood sample at certified facility
- Receive secure results - Comprehensive report within 1-2 business days
FAQ
What does this panel test for? Measures cholesterol levels (total, LDL, HDL, VLDL, triglycerides) and A1C for diabetes screening.
Do I need to fast before the test? No fasting required for A1C testing; lipid panel fasting increasingly optional per recent guidelines.
How often should I get tested? Annually for routine screening; every 3-6 months if managing diabetes or cardiovascular risk.
What if my results are abnormal? Consult healthcare provider for interpretation and treatment planning; many services include medical review.
Can I use this to monitor my diabetes? Yes, A1C reflects average blood sugar over 2-3 months, ideal for diabetes management tracking.
Is this test as accurate as my doctor's office? Yes, uses same CLIA-certified labs with 93% specificity and 94% positive predictive value.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This comprehensive panel simultaneously screens for diabetes/prediabetes and cardiovascular disease risk through a single blood draw. The A1C test measures glycated hemoglobin, reflecting your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months (CDC 2024). The lipid panel evaluates cardiovascular risk by measuring total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol, and triglycerides (Mayo Clinic 2025).
This combination is particularly valuable because diabetes and cardiovascular disease are closely linked—people with diabetes have a 2-4 times higher risk of cardiovascular events (American Heart Association 2025). The panel enables early detection of both conditions, allowing for lifestyle interventions before requiring medication.
Who would benefit from this test?
Adults over 45 or those with risk factors benefit most from this screening (American Family Physician 2019). Specific populations include individuals with family history of diabetes or heart disease, people with obesity or hypertension, and those experiencing symptoms like fatigue or chest pain.
Nearly 16% of American adults have diabetes, with 22.8% undiagnosed (CDC 2024). Additionally, 70% of adults with diagnosed diabetes have high or borderline high cholesterol (American Journal of Managed Care), making combined screening essential for comprehensive health assessment.
When should I order this panel?
Order annually for routine screening if you're over 45 or have risk factors. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, testing every 3-6 months helps monitor treatment effectiveness (American Diabetes Association 2024). Consider testing when starting new diabetes medications or if experiencing symptoms like unexplained fatigue, frequent urination, or cardiovascular symptoms.
The test is also valuable for preventive screening in healthy individuals, as early detection allows for lifestyle modifications that can prevent progression to full diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
How do I interpret the results?
HbA1c Below 5.7%
- What it means: Normal blood sugar
- Typical action: Maintain healthy lifestyle
HbA1c 5.7% - 6.4%
- What it means: Prediabetes
- Typical action: Lifestyle changes, regular monitoring
HbA1c 6.5% or higher
- What it means: Diabetes
- Typical action: Medical consultation, treatment plan
For lipids, target values include: Total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, LDL <100 mg/dL, HDL >40 mg/dL (men) or >50 mg/dL (women), and triglycerides <150 mg/dL (Mayo Clinic 2025).
Each 1% reduction in A1C can reduce diabetes complications risk by up to 21%.
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.
Pre-test preparation
No fasting is required for A1C testing. While traditional guidelines recommended 12-14 hours fasting for lipid panels, recent evidence suggests fasting may be unnecessary for most patients (Harvard Health 2018). Continue taking regular medications unless specifically instructed otherwise. The test can be performed at any time of day, though morning is preferred if you choose to fast for lipids.
How often should I get tested?
- Healthy adults over 45 – Suggested interval: Annually
- Prediabetes or diabetes – Suggested interval: Every 3–6 months
- Starting diabetes medication – Suggested interval: 3 months after initiation
- Cardiovascular risk factors – Suggested interval: Every 6–12 months
Why early detection matters
Early detection through combined testing can significantly reduce long-term healthcare costs and complications. The global economic burden of type 2 diabetes was $1.3 trillion in 2015, projected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2030 (Harvard Global Health Institute). Identifying prediabetes allows for lifestyle interventions that can delay or prevent progression to diabetes by up to 58%.
Similarly, early detection of dyslipidemia enables preventive measures before cardiovascular events occur. Even modest improvements in diet and exercise can significantly impact both A1C and lipid levels, potentially avoiding the need for lifelong medications.
Related tests you may consider
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14) with eGFR Blood Test - Evaluates nutrient levels, liver, and kidney function.
Microalbumin Urine Test, Random - Measures albumin levels in urine to detect or monitor kidney damage or disease in at-risk patients.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Blood Test, Quantitative - Measures CRP levels to detect and monitor inflammation caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, injuries, or chronic conditions, helping doctors assess treatment effectiveness and overall health.
