Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood (serum)
- Fasting: Not required
- Turn-around: 7-8 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Advanced particle analysis reveals heart disease risk missed by standard cholesterol tests.
- Measures insulin resistance markers to identify metabolic syndrome early.
- Detects small, dangerous LDL particles that increase cardiovascular risk.
- Provides actionable data to personalize diet, exercise, and treatment plans.
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals with family history of heart disease or stroke.
- People with normal cholesterol but other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Those monitoring response to lipid-lowering medications or lifestyle changes.
- Anyone with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
- Health-conscious individuals seeking comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment.
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online - Purchase your test and visit a nearby lab.
- Collect sample - Provide a blood sample at a local draw site.
- Receive results - Get detailed results in 7-8 business days.
FAQ
What makes this test different from a standard lipid panel? This test uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to measure lipoprotein particle number, size, and concentration—not just cholesterol levels. It provides superior cardiovascular risk prediction by identifying dangerous small LDL particles and insulin resistance markers that traditional tests miss.
Do I need to fast before this test? No fasting is required for this test, making it convenient to schedule anytime during your day.
How accurate is NMR testing for predicting heart disease? LDL particle number (LDL-P) measured by NMR shows stronger correlation with plaque buildup than LDL cholesterol alone, with significantly improved prediction of cardiovascular events (NCBI PMC 2022). Over 50% of people with normal LDL cholesterol still experience heart attacks, making particle analysis critical.
Can I use this test to monitor my treatment progress? Yes, this test is ideal for tracking how well diet, exercise, or medications are improving your lipoprotein profile and insulin resistance markers over time.
How soon will I get my results? Results are typically available within 7-8 business days after your sample reaches the laboratory.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This test provides comprehensive cardiovascular and metabolic risk assessment by analyzing lipoprotein particle characteristics and insulin resistance markers. Using advanced NMR spectroscopy, it quantifies particle number, size, and composition to identify individuals at elevated risk despite normal standard cholesterol levels (Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021).
What biomarkers are measured in this test?
- LDL Particle Number (LDL-P)
- LDL Particle Size
- HDL Particle Number (HDL-P)
- HDL Particle Size
- VLDL Particle Concentration
- Total LDL Cholesterol
- Total HDL Cholesterol
- Total Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Non-HDL Cholesterol
- Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance Score (LPIR)
- Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAA)
- GlycA (inflammatory marker)
Who would benefit from this test?
This test benefits individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease, especially those with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, or family history of heart disease. It's particularly valuable for people whose standard lipid panels appear normal but who have other risk factors, and for those monitoring their response to lipid-lowering therapy or lifestyle interventions.
When should I order this test?
Order this test when seeking comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment, especially if previous lipid tests show borderline or conflicting results. It's ideal for individuals with risk factors like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking history. Consider testing before starting treatment and periodically to monitor therapeutic effectiveness.
How do I interpret the results?
Your results will show particle numbers, sizes, and concentrations for various lipoproteins. High LDL particle number (LDL-P), small LDL particle size, elevated LPIR score, or increased non-HDL cholesterol indicate higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Your healthcare provider should review these findings to determine appropriate interventions.
Key markers to watch:
- LDL-P: Higher numbers indicate more particles carrying cholesterol into artery walls
- Particle size: Smaller LDL particles are more dangerous than large ones
- LPIR score: Elevated scores suggest insulin resistance
- Non-HDL cholesterol: Captures all atherogenic particles
The LPIR score can predict insulin resistance with over 80% accuracy, enabling earlier intervention (Frontiers in Endocrinology 2021).
Pre-test preparation
No fasting is required for this test. Maintain your normal diet and medication schedule unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise. Stay well-hydrated before your blood draw. If collecting at home, follow all kit instructions carefully for proper sample handling and shipping.
How often should I get tested?
- Initial assessment: Test once to establish your baseline lipoprotein profile
- Monitoring therapy: Retest 3-6 months after starting treatment or lifestyle changes
- Maintenance: Annual testing for individuals with established risk factors
- Healthy individuals: Every 2-3 years as part of routine preventive screening
Why early detection matters
Identifying unfavorable lipoprotein particle patterns early enables timely lifestyle modifications and medical interventions that can prevent cardiovascular events. Systematic use of NMR lipoprotein testing has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events by facilitating personalized treatment (Johns Hopkins Medicine 2022). Early detection and management of insulin resistance can also delay or prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
Related tests you may consider
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Blood Test, High Sensitivity, Cardiac Risk Assessment - Checks for tiny amounts of inflammation in the body to help predict the risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, even in people with normal cholesterol levels.
Apolipoprotein B Blood Test - Used to determine the level of apolipoprotein B in the blood, which helps assess an individual's likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.
Lipid Panel Blood Test With Total Cholesterol: HDL Ratio - Used to assess cardiovascular risk and track cholesterol treatment effectiveness by measuring blood lipids.
