The 3 kinds of lipids measured in the Complete Lipid Panel cholesterol screening are:
- LDL cholesterol - Low-density lipoprotein or LDL is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood, carrying about 65% of the cholesterol in blood. LDL is often referred to as "bad cholesterol". If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.
- HDL cholesterol - High-density lipoprotein or HDL carries about 30% of the cholesterol in blood. HDL is often referred to as "good cholesterol". HDL carries bad cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. A high HDL cholesterol level is protective against heart disease, while a low level of HDL increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Triglycerides - Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Like cholesterol, they circulate in your blood but are stored in body fat and used when the body needs extra energy. Triglyceride levels increase significantly after eating. A high triglyceride level combined with a low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol can speed up the process of atherosclerosis.
Total cholesterol - The Complete Lipid Panel cholesterol screening also measures total cholesterol, which is the sum of all the types of cholesterol in your blood.
Risk Ranges Published by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in November 1985. The goal of the NCEP is to contribute to reducing illness and death from coronary heart disease in the United States by reducing the percent of Americans with high blood cholesterol.
In 2001, the NCEP published the 3rd version of the Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III Guidelines). Their recommended screening test is a fasting Complete Lipid Panel, measuring total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides.
| LDL Cholesterol |
Category |
| < 100 mg/dL |
Optimal |
| 100-129 mg/dL |
Near optimal/above optimal |
| 130-159 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| 160-189 mg/dL |
High |
| ≥ 190 mg/dL |
Very High |
| HDL Cholesterol |
Category |
| ≤ 40 mg/dL |
Low |
| ≥ 60 mg/dL |
High (desirable) |
| Triglycerides |
Category |
| < 150 mg/dL |
Normal |
| 150-199 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| 200-499 mg/dL |
High |
| ≥ 500 mg/dL |
Very high |
| Total Cholesterol |
Category |
| < 200 mg/dL |
Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dL |
Borderline high |
| ≥ 240 mg/dL |
High |
Cholesterol Screening Recommendations
National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
- Cholesterol screening every 5 years in asymptomatic adults starting at age 20
- Test every 1-2 years in patients with cardiovascular disease or abnormal lipid profiles
- For those on statins (cholesterol lowering medication), test every 6 weeks until lipid goals are met and every 4-6 months thereafter
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
- Recommends routine screening of men and women aged 20 years and older for lipid disorders, but no frequency interval given.
American Diabetes Association
- Complete lipid panel every year for all adults
Call today or register online for a complete lipid panel test.
Sources: American Heart Association web site www.americanheart.org, American Diabetes web site www.diabetes.org, NCEP ATP III Guidelines (2001), Screening for Lipid Disorders. Am J Prev Med 2001;20(3S):73-6.
