Lab tests
Lipid panel (cholesterol test) explainer
A lipid panel reports several kinds of fat carried in your blood, and the lines do not all point the same way: for some a lower number is the aim, for one a higher number is. Add your report below to see each line named, with the value found and the range or target your laboratory printed.
Explain your lipid panel (cholesterol test)
- 1. Add itDrop a PDF, take a photo or paste the text.
- 2. Check itPersonal details are removed on your device. You approve what is sent.
- 3. Read itSummary, table of results, terms and questions to ask.
The explainer opens on its own page with no adverts and no outside scripts. Your file is read on your device and is never uploaded.
What you get
- Each lipid result on its own row with your report's units.
- A note on which lines are measured and which are calculated from the others.
- Plain definitions of LDL, HDL, non-HDL and triglycerides.
- Questions to ask about what your numbers mean for your own risk.
Lines you will usually see on a lipid panel
- Total cholesterolAll the cholesterol carried in the blood added together
- LDL cholesterolOften described as the 'bad' cholesterol
- HDL cholesterolOften described as the 'good' cholesterol
- TriglyceridesA type of fat carried in the blood
- Non-HDL cholesterolTotal cholesterol minus HDL
- Cholesterol to HDL ratioTotal cholesterol divided by HDL
What this tool cannot tell you
Cholesterol results are usually weighed against a person's overall risk rather than a single cut-off, and targets differ between people and between guidelines. The range printed on a report is a general one. MedicDecode explains the lines and shows what your report flags. It does not estimate your risk or say whether you need treatment.
Common questions
Does it matter whether I fasted before the test?
Some laboratories ask you to fast and some do not, and triglycerides in particular can be affected by a recent meal. If your report states your fasting status, the explanation mentions it.
What does calculated LDL mean?
Many laboratories work out LDL from the other results with a formula instead of measuring it directly. Reports often say so, and some note that the calculation is unreliable when triglycerides are very high.
Will it tell me whether I need cholesterol medicine?
No. That decision depends on your age, blood pressure, medical history and other factors that are not on the report. Your doctor can go through it with you.
Words you may see on this report
Tap a word for its plain-English meaning, an example line and what it does not mean.
- HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol away from the arteries back to the liver, which is why it is often called "good" cholesterol.
- LDL Cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is the type of cholesterol that can build up in artery walls, which is why it is often called "bad" cholesterol.
- Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the blood; the body stores extra energy from food as triglycerides.
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver; when liver cells are irritated or damaged, more ALT leaks into the blood.
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is an enzyme found in the liver, muscles, heart and other tissues; raised levels can signal stress or damage in one of these.
- Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells break down; the liver processes it so it can leave the body.
- Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle activity that the kidneys filter out, so its blood level helps show how well the kidneys work.
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
CRP is a protein made by the liver that rises quickly when there is inflammation or infection in the body.
- Culture and Sensitivity
A culture and sensitivity test grows germs from a sample to identify them, then checks which antibiotics can stop them.
- eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
eGFR is an estimate of how well your kidneys filter waste from your blood, calculated from a creatinine blood test plus details like age.
- Electrolytes
Electrolytes are minerals in the blood, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, that carry an electric charge and help the body work.
- ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
ESR measures how fast red blood cells sink in a tube of blood over an hour; a faster rate can be a general sign of inflammation.
Medicines connected to this test
Their official labels mention this kind of test. Each is explained in plain English.
- Atorvastatin
a statin, a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type
- Rosuvastatin
a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the statin type (an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor)
- Simvastatin
a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type (often called a statin)