Normal Cholesterol Levels? Find Out with a Lab Test

Lipoproteins are substances made of protein and fat. They transport cholesterol through your bloodstream, but they’re not all the same size. Small, dense lipoproteins increase your risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease—and standard lipid tests don’t measure them. This one does.

LDL, HDL and triglyceride testing only tells part of the story when it comes to heart disease risk. The NMR LipoProfile® test provides these standard lipid tests along with LDL and HDL particle values, plus risk assessment for insulin resistance.

The apolipoprotein B (ApoB) blood test measures apolipoprotein B100, the ApoB protein that is associated with three different forms of potentially dangerous cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL).

An important test to determine the risk of cardiovascular disease, this measures the ratio of apolipoprotein A1 (apo A-1) and apolipoprotein B (apo B).

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is one of the main causes of the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the arterial wall. This blood test measures levels of oxidized LDL.

LDL, HDL and triglycerides are major risk factors for heart disease—but cholesterol isn’t the only threat. NMR LipoProfile® PLUS Blood Test measures cholesterol, LDL and HDL particle values, insulin resistance (LP-IR) and important cardiac inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein and myeloperoxidase. This panel now includes Oxidized LDL, an important measure of pro-inflammatory oxidized cholesterol particles.

Testing for apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1), found in HDL cholesterol, provides an indicator of arterial plaque formation due to apo A-1’s ability to aid cholesterol removal. High apo A-1 may predict a lower risk of coronary artery disease.

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) is “bad” cholesterol modified by oxidation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) oxidizes LDL. MPO is an enzyme released by white blood cells that measures the body’s response to damage in the artery walls.

A "normal" cholesterol test may not tell the whole story; high levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which this test checks for, may indicate coronary disease, metabolic syndrome and other concerns.