Metabolic Risk Panel Test | Metabolic Syndrome Blood Test

Metabolic Risk Panel

Measure key biomarkers to help you and your healthcare provider assess your risk for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. These conditions can progress to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other serious health complications if left untreated. 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 taking supplements or medications, check with your healthcare provider to see whether you should take them before the test.

Test type: In Person

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$169.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

About the Test

The Metabolic Risk Panel measures markers for lipids (different types of fats, like cholesterol and triglycerides) and blood sugar to help assess your risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome is a grouping of health conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, a large waistline, low HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, and/or high triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome affects almost half of adults in the United States and is a sign of insulin resistance (IR). IR is an underlying condition when your body does not respond to insulin, therefore causing high blood sugar levels. If metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance are not identified early, it may lead to many serious health issues like prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, CVD, stroke, and more. Knowing your risk for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance may help you and your healthcare provider identify issues before they become problematic.

With Quest, you can buy this metabolic risk panel online and get testing at a nearby location – no doctor’s visit required.

This metabolic syndrome blood test may be right for you if any of the following are true:

You have identified metabolic dysfunction risk factors, such as:
- Being overweight or obese
- Occupation (i.e., shift workers)
- Lifestyle habits (i.e., smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, etc.)
- Reproductive health history risk factors (i.e., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, PCOS, etc.)
- Family history of diabetes, pre-diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease or polycystic ovarian syndrome
You want to better understand your risk of a heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and other diseases of the blood vessels
You have acanthosis nigricans (skin condition that causes dark, velvety patches on skin folds)

This test may NOT be right for you if any of the following are true:

You are on glucose-lowering agents
You have chronic kidney disease

This test panel measures the following levels in your blood that are commonly evaluated by healthcare providers to determine risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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).

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) carries LDL cholesterol and other potentially harmful lipid particles around the body. It includes all cholesterol particles that can form plaque in your arteries and lead to cardiovascular disease. Levels of ApoB can identify risk of cardiovascular disease, even if traditional LDL cholesterol levels are normal.

Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. When sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches and sticks to hemoglobin molecules to form hemoglobin A1c. The HbA1c test is used to measure your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months.

Healthcare professionals use this test to determine disease states such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes or to help you monitor your levels if you have diabetes. An elevated HbA1c level means that your blood sugar levels have been high over the past 3 months. The HbA1c test reports your blood sugar levels as a percentage.

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps control blood sugar levels by transporting glucose and fatty acids to muscle, fat, and liver cells. If the cells do not respond to the insulin, then the glucose stays in the blood and blood sugar levels remain high. This is referred to as insulin resistance, which can lead to prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, obesity, CVD, metabolic syndrome, or other conditions.

C-peptide is produced in the pancreas at the same time as insulin, however it stays in the blood longer than insulin does. This makes it a good indicator of how much insulin is being produced. High levels of c-peptide along with high levels of insulin may indicate insulin resistance.

This panel provides a calculated score based on the insulin and C-peptide values to help identify hidden metabolic risk, even when HbA1c and glucose (blood sugar) levels are normal. Each score is associated with a probability of insulin resistance:
• A score < 33 is ideal and indicates normal insulin sensitivity
• A score between 33-66 indicates you are 4 times more likely to have insulin resistance
• A score > 66 indicates you are 15 times more likely to have insulin resistance

Note: This score was validated in a mostly white population and has not yet been fully tested or validated in other ethnic groups.

Signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome may be hard to recognize or go unnoticed, but could include:

Increased waistline
Weight gain
High blood pressure
Blurred vision
Increased thirst
Increased urination, especially at night
Extreme fatigue

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 a 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.

How it works

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In-home sample collection

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

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

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FAQs

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a grouping of health conditions that are caused by insulin resistance (IR). It can be diagnosed by doctors if at least 3 of the following 5 criteria are met: elevated non-fasting triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, increased waist circumference, elevated glucose levels, and elevated blood pressure.

What is insulin resistance (IR)? Why does it matter?

Insulin resistance (IR) is a metabolic condition when the insulin your body makes isn't working as effectively to lower your blood sugar as it normally would, so your body makes more insulin to process the same amount of sugar. Over time, IR may continue to increase and/or pancreatic function may decline, allowing blood glucose and HbA1c levels to elevate. This can be a gradual process and makes early identification of IR difficult.

If IR is left untreated, it can lead to the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is also associated with other clinical conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), polycystic ovary syndrome, and certain forms of cancer. Therefore, early identification of IR and intervention can halt or reverse progression of clinical conditions.

What is cardiovascular disease or CVD?

CVD, the leading cause of death worldwide, is an umbrella term encompassing all heart and blood vessel disorders, including clogged arteries (coronary heart disease), heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, congenital heart abnormalities, and peripheral artery disease.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests on 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

• Quest Diagnostics. Metabolic Risk Panel. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-guides/TS_MetabolicRiskPnl/metabolic-risk-panel?p=td
• NIH. Metabolic Syndrome. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/metabolic-syndrome/causes
• Quest Diagnostics. Insulin, Intact, LC/MS/MS. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/93103/insulin-intact-lcmsms?p=r&q=insulin&cc=PHP

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.

Metabolic Risk Panel