Lipid Panel Test | Cholesterol Lipid Profile Blood Test

Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel

This cholesterol lipid panel test measures specific lipid levels of your blood to help assess risk for heart disease, heart attack (or stroke), and other diseases of the blood vessels. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

Fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for 8-12 hours is recommended. If you are not able to fast before the test, certain levels may be elevated. If you are taking medications, check with your healthcare provider to see whether you should take them before the test.

Test type: In Person

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$59.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

What

Measures your levels of total cholesterol, HDL (good), LDL (bad), and triglycerides.

Who

Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

This lipid panel (or lipid profile) blood test measures your cholesterol and triglycerides levels to assess your risk for cardiovascular diseases. The lipid profile test works by measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, cholesterol/HDL ratio, and non-HDL. Regular lipid panel testing plays a key role in maintaining both general and cardiovascular health. If the results show you have higher than normal levels of cholesterol, you and your healthcare provider can work together to determine next steps.

Buy your own lipid panel test online with Quest. No doctor’s visit is required – simply purchase lipid profile testing, visit a nearby Quest® location for sample collection, and get fast results.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance found in everyone’s blood and is needed to make cell membranes, some hormones, and Vitamin D. Cholesterol comes from some animal-based foods, such as eggs, meat, and dairy. It is also produced by the liver. Too much cholesterol in the blood can clog blood vessels, reducing the flow of blood to the heart, brain, and other organs. This can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious health conditions.

Total Cholesterol
This measures the total amount of cholesterol found in your blood. This is the combination of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol. Too much cholesterol in your blood may damage arteries and blood vessels, which may increase the risk for a stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are fats that are formed from foods such as oils, dairy, and red meat. These fats get converted into triglycerides and are stored away in fat cells to be used when needed. High levels of triglycerides can lead to hardening and thickening of the arteries.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
HDL, which is often called "good" cholesterol, picks up extra cholesterol that is circulating in the blood, using apolipoprotein A, and takes it back to your liver so it can be removed from your body.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (calculated)
LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol, transports cholesterol throughout your body to the cells that need it. Too much LDL can make cholesterol build up in your arteries, making them narrow and stiff, or blocking them, which makes it more difficult for blood to flow.

Cholesterol/HDL ratio (calculated)
Cholesterol/HDL ratio is the ratio of HDL to your total cholesterol. A higher ratio means that you don’t have enough HDL for the amount of LDL, and that can lead to cardiovascular disease.

Non-HDL cholesterol (calculated)
Non-HDL cholesterol measures the combined amount of cholesterol in the blood that is not HDL cholesterol. High levels of non-HDL cholesterol may increase the risk of atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries).

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

Compare Tests

And find the right tests for you.

Test For	Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel	High-Risk Heart Health Lipid and Lp(a) Panel	Total Cholesterol Test
Total cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (calculated)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Triglycerides
Cholesterol/HDL ratio (calculated)
Non-HDL cholesterol (calculated)
Lipoprotein(a)
	$59.00	$85.00 Learn More	$39.00 Learn More

Cholesterol (Lipid) Panel	High-Risk Heart Health Lipid and Lp(a) Panel	Total Cholesterol Test
Total cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (calculated)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Triglycerides
Cholesterol/HDL ratio (calculated)
Non-HDL cholesterol (calculated)
Lipoprotein(a)
$59.00	$85.00 Learn More	$39.00 Learn More

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

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No doctor visit required for purchase. Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Schedule an appointment

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available.

View results

Get physician support

Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

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+ in-home sample collection

If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $79 fee.

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Schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

View results

In-home sample collection is not available in all locations.
Is in-home sample collection available near me?

High cholesterol has no symptoms, so many people who have high cholesterol don't know it.

FAQs

What is total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides?

Cholesterol and triglycerides are lipids (fats) that are transported through the blood by lipoproteins, a combination of lipids and protein. HDL and LDL are 2 types of lipoproteins that bind to cholesterol and carry it throughout the body.

Total Cholesterol: This measures the total amount of cholesterol found in your blood. The cholesterol is bound to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as it moves through the blood.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol, transports cholesterol throughout your body to the cells that need it. Too much LDL can make cholesterol build up in your arteries, making them narrow and stiff, or blocking them, which makes it more difficult for blood to flow.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL): HDL, which is often called "good" cholesterol, picks up extra cholesterol that is circulating in the blood and takes it back to your liver so it can be removed from your body.

Triglycerides: Triglycerides are fats that are formed from foods such as oils, dairy, and red meat. These fats get converted into triglycerides and are stored away in fat cells to be used when needed. High levels of triglycerides can lead to hardening and thickening of the arteries.

Can my lifestyle cause high cholesterol?

Your lifestyle can have an impact on your cholesterol level. People who do not exercise regularly, have a high-fat diet, are overweight, and/or who smoke have a higher risk of developing heart disease.

What happens if high cholesterol goes untreated?

High cholesterol in the blood increases your risk of having heart disease. This means you may have an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Who should get their cholesterol checked?

According to the CDC Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• People age 20 or older who are at low risk for cardiovascular disease should have their cholesterol checked every 5 years
• People with cardiovascular disease risk factors should be checked more frequently

What are the risk factors for heart disease?

Risk factors for developing heart disease include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity
• High-fat diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Tobacco use

Your healthcare provider can help you determine your risk factors for developing heart disease.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

CDC website:

¹Cholesterol. cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm

Getting your cholesterol checked. cdc.gov/cholesterol/cholesterol_screening.htm

LDL and HDL cholesterol: "bad" and "good" cholesterol. cdc.gov/cholesterol/ldl_hdl.htm

How and when to have your cholesterol checked. cdc.gov/cholesterol/checked.htm

^*Heart and Stroke Statistics https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-and-stroke-association-statistics

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.