Cholesterol Blood Test
£99
Excellent 4.9 Rating
20% off with code BFBL20
Biomarkers Included with the Cholesterol Blood Test blood test
Scroll down for more information about each biomarker
Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
HDL Cholesterol
Non HDL Cholesterol
Cholesterol:HDL ratio
Triglycerides
Why choose us for your Cholesterol Blood Test
About the Cholesterol Blood Test blood test
Cholesterol is a kind of fatty substance found in the blood. It is made by the liver and we all have some of it circulating naturally in our bodies. The body needs it to work – it is used by every cell, helps make vitamin D and some hormones, and is a component of bile.
The higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of going on to have a heart attack or stroke. But you can’t tell how high it is without a test, which is why it’s important to get tested.
Our detailed cholesterol blood test provides you important information about your cholesterol levels, including good cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels.
Measure the level of triglycerides, LDL, and HDL cholesterol in your blood and check your risk of heart disease based on your ratio of HDL good to total cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol can build up on your artery walls and hardens over time, narrowing the arteries and increasing your risk of heart disease. HDL cholesterol can help stop this by taking LDL cholesterol and passing it out through the liver. Healthy cholesterol levels should be low levels of LDL and high level of HDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides are the main source of fat in the body, which we all need but if its present in high levels then this increases the risk of heart disease
Biomarker information for Cholesterol Blood Test blood test
Cholesterol is an essential fat (lipid) in the body. It has some important functions, including building cell membranes and producing a number of essential hormones such as testosterone and oestradiol. There are a number of different types of cholesterol, but the two main components of total cholesterol are HDL (high density lipoprotein) -“Good” and LDL (low density lipoprotein)- “Bad”.
The total cholesterol result on its own only shows the total amount of both of these components and so even if you have a good amount of total cholesterol, you may have a low amount of good cholesterol and high amount of bad cholesterol therefore its important to review each of these results to understand your cardiovascular health and risks of cardiovascular disease.
LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) is a molecule made of lipids and proteins which transports cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats to various tissues throughout the body. Too much LDL cholesterol, commonly called ‘bad cholesterol’, can cause fatty deposits to accumulate inside artery walls, potentially leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease.
HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is a molecule in the body which removes cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports it to the liver where it is broken down and removed from the body in bile. HDL cholesterol is commonly known as ‘good cholesterol’.
Cholesterol in your body is generally broken down into 2 main components; HDL and LDL. However there are other types of cholesterol such as VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins) and other lipoproteins which are thought to be even more harmful than LDL cholesterol. Non-HDL cholesterol is calculated by subtracting your HDL cholesterol value from your total cholesterol. It therefore includes all the potentially harmful cholesterol in your blood including LDL. As such, it is considered to be a better marker for cardiovascular risk than total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
The cholesterol/HDL ratio is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol value by your HDL cholesterol level. It is used as a measure of cardiovascular risk because it gives a good insight into the proportion of your total cholesterol which is “good” (i.e. high-density lipoprotein, HDL). If your health check includes advanced cardiovascular risk scoring – QRisk then this value is important and used to help calculate your risk of having a heart attack.
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) that circulate in the blood. After you eat, your body converts excess calories (whether from fat or carbohydrates) into triglycerides which are then transported to cells to be stored as fat. Your body then releases triglycerides when required for energy.
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What does the Cholesterol Blood Test blood test involve?
This blood test is just like a standard blood test.
You will be asked to uncover you left or right arm and suitable vein is found. A tourniquet will be placed and tightened around your upper arm allowing the veins to swell and a needle will be placed into your vein. A small quantity of blood is then drawn into tubes. Once the procedure is complete a small plaster will be placed onto the site which can be removed after a few hours.
How do I prepare
- The blood test requires access to the area of interest, therefore, it is recommended to wear loose clothing to facilitate this process.
- If you are unsure about the preparation, please contact us for further information.
How to find us
We pride ourselves on providing the best quality service we can which is why we are trusted by GP's, doctors, physiotherapists, midwives and many other healthcare professionals.
Our mission of better quality healthcare for everyone is at the heart of everything we do and drives us to do the best we can for each and every patient that we see. Our team of experts have years of experience and are fully registered and regulated meaning you are in safe hands with us.
Cholesterol Blood Test FAQ's
Important Notes
- We may require details of your GP / Health Care Professional before or at the time of the test.
- Our London East clinic is located on the first floor, up one flight of stairs. Please note that we don’t have a lift available at this location.
- Blood results require interpretation. All results should be interpreted by your regular health care professional / GP.
- All of our first-line tests are optional and provided on a self-referral basis. You must be aged 16 years or over to use this service. If you have an existing medical condition, are undergoing treatment, or have any concerns about whether this test is appropriate for you, we recommend that you consult your GP or healthcare professional before booking.
- We kindly ask that you inform us of any specific requirements, reasonable adjustments, cultural considerations, or practitioner preferences before your appointment. Whilst we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests, this may not always be possible at short notice or subject to staff availability.