Diagnosis of Lipid Disorders
En Español (Spanish Version)Lipid disorders are diagnosed with blood tests that measure the level of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood.
Blood Tests
Cholesterol levels are checked with a blood test. A small blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. You may need to fast for several hours, usually overnight, before your blood is taken. The test measures levels of:
- Total cholesterol
- Unhealthy LDL cholesterol
- Healthy HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
The readings are interpreted as follows:
Total CholesterolLevelInterpretation<200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)Desirable200-239 mg/dL (5.2-6.1 mmol/L)Borderline high240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L) and aboveHighLDL CholesterolLevelInterpretationLess than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)Optimal100-129 mg/dL (2.6-3.3 mmol/L)Near optimal/above optimal130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.0 mmol/L)Borderline high160-189 mg/dL (4.1-4.8 mmol/L)High>190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) and aboveVery highHDL CholesterolLevelInterpretation60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) and aboveProtective against heart diseaseLess than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)A major heart disease risk factorTriglyceridesLevelInterpretationLess than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)Normal150-199 mg/dL (1.7-2.2 mmol/L)Borderline high200-499 mg/dL (2.3-5.6 mmol/L)High500 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L) and aboveVery high
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter of blood; (mmol/L= millimoles per liter of blood)
ATP III guidelines at a glance quick desk reference. National Cholesterol Education Program. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atglance.pdf. Updated May 2001. Accessed March 22, 2013.
Hypercholesterolemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated February 11, 2013. Accessed March 22, 2013.
Hypertriglyceridemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated January 17, 2013. Accessed March 22, 2013.
Last Reviewed February 2013