Blood tests for heart health and high cholesterol

The tests that matter most

Most important first. Each one links to its full page, where the note for this group sits near the top.

• LDL Cholesterol

  LDL is the main number cholesterol treatment aims to lower, and the 2026 U.S. guideline sets LDL goals that depend on overall heart risk. It suggests a repeat lipid test 4 to 12 weeks after starting or stepping up cholesterol treatment, to see how well it is working.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 99 mg/dL

• Non-HDL Cholesterol

  Non-HDL cholesterol is total cholesterol minus HDL, so it counts the cholesterol in all the particles that can build plaque. The 2026 U.S. guideline sets non-HDL goals next to LDL goals, each 30 mg/dL above the matching LDL goal, and supports reporting it with every lipid panel.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 129 mg/dL

• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)

  ApoB counts plaque-building particles, since each one carries a single ApoB. The 2026 U.S. guideline says ApoB can be useful on treatment once LDL and non-HDL goals are met, especially with diabetes, high triglycerides or heart disease, because LDL and ApoB disagree more often in those cases.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 90 mg/dL

• Lipoprotein(a), molar (nmol/L)

  Lp(a) is mostly inherited. The 2026 U.S. guideline recommends measuring it at least once in all adults, counts a high level as a risk-enhancing factor, and prefers tests reported in nmol/L. It says one test is generally enough, unless something can shift the level, such as the menopause transition, pregnancy, or kidney, liver or thyroid disease.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 75 nmol/L

• Lipoprotein(a), mass (mg/dL)

  Some labs report Lp(a) in mg/dL instead of nmol/L. The 2026 U.S. guideline notes that results from different tests and labs are hard to compare, so it helps to compare results in the same unit from the same kind of test.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 29.9 mg/dL

• Triglycerides

  Triglycerides that stay raised count as a risk-enhancing factor in the 2026 U.S. guideline. Clinicians often look for common contributors first, such as alcohol, diet, diabetes that isn't well controlled, kidney disease, an underactive thyroid or some medicines.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  up to 149 mg/dL

• HDL Cholesterol

  HDL is measured in every standard lipid panel. It is needed to work out non-HDL cholesterol, which is total cholesterol minus HDL.

  Source: Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  40 and above mg/dL

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP, incl. hs-CRP)

  High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) picks up very small rises in CRP and is used to estimate heart risk. If it is measured, the 2026 U.S. guideline counts an hs-CRP of 2 mg/L or more on more than one occasion as a risk-enhancing factor.

  Sources: MedlinePlus and Circulation (2026)

  Usual adult range

  0–5 mg/L

• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

  The 2026 U.S. guideline notes that statins slightly raise the chance of type 2 diabetes in people who already have risk factors for it, such as an A1c of 6.0 to 6.4%, and that this is rare with normal blood sugar. The atorvastatin label also lists rises in A1c and fasting glucose.

  Sources: Circulation (2026) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024)

  Usual adult range

  4.8–5.6 %

• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

  ALT is a liver enzyme. The atorvastatin (Lipitor) label suggests considering liver enzyme tests before starting, and after that when there is a clinical reason.

  Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024)

  Men, 18+

  0–44 U/L

  Women, 18+

  0–32 U/L

• Creatine Kinase (CK), Total

  CK is a muscle enzyme. The atorvastatin label asks people to report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. The 2026 U.S. guideline suggests checking CK when muscle symptoms are severe, and notes that muscle aches with a normal CK are common on statins.

  Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024) and Circulation (2026)

  Men, 19–49

  26–366 U/L

  Women, 19–49

  20–239 U/L

Ranges shown are the usual adult ranges labs print. The range on your own report is the one your result is judged against.

Also written for

• Prediabetes or diabetes
• Tracking for long-term health
• Keto or low-carb eating
• On a GLP-1 medicine