Heart & Cholesterol
Cholesterol and other blood fats, the particles that carry them, and markers of heart strain or injury.
28 tests explained
Most common tests
- Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)ApoB counts the cholesterol-carrying particles that can build up in artery walls, which can add detail beyond your LDL cholesterol number.
- HDL CholesterolHDL cholesterol is the cholesterol carried in HDL particles. Low levels are linked to more heart risk, but very high levels aren't clearly protective.
- HomocysteineHomocysteine is an amino acid your body clears with B vitamins. Higher levels can reflect low B12 or folate, kidney function, age or genetics.
- LDL CholesterolThe cholesterol carried in LDL particles, which can build up in artery walls. It is the main cholesterol number used to estimate heart and blood vessel risk.
- Lipoprotein(a), mass (mg/dL)A cholesterol-carrying particle like LDL with an extra protein attached. Your level is mostly set by your genes and stays fairly steady through life.
- Lipoprotein(a), molar (nmol/L)A cholesterol-carrying particle like LDL with an extra protein attached, counted in nmol/L. Your level is mostly set by your genes and stays fairly steady.
- Non-HDL CholesterolAll the cholesterol in your blood except HDL. It is total cholesterol minus HDL, and it counts every particle that can build up in artery walls.
- Total CholesterolThe total amount of cholesterol in your blood, counting HDL, LDL and VLDL together. It is one piece of the lipid panel.
- Total Cholesterol / HDL RatioYour total cholesterol divided by your HDL ("good") cholesterol. Some labs print it as a single number that sums up your cholesterol balance.
- TriglyceridesA type of fat in your blood that carries energy from food. It rises after meals, and high levels are linked to heart disease and, when very high, pancreatitis.
Common follow-up tests
- ApoB / ApoA1 RatioCompares ApoB (the protein on particles that can build up in arteries) with ApoA1 (the main HDL protein). A higher ratio is linked to more heart attacks.
- Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1)The main protein in HDL particles. Higher levels usually go along with higher HDL cholesterol and are linked to a lower chance of heart disease.
- BNP (B-Type Natriuretic Peptide)A hormone your heart releases when it is stretched. It helps clinicians judge whether symptoms like shortness of breath could be from heart failure.
- CK-MBA heart-muscle form of the enzyme creatine kinase. It was long used to look for heart muscle injury, and troponin has now mostly replaced it.
- GlycAAn NMR measure that tracks several proteins that rise with inflammation. Some clinicians use it alongside hs-CRP.
- HDL Particle Number (HDL-P)The number of HDL particles in your blood, counted by NMR. It sits beside HDL cholesterol, which measures the cholesterol those particles carry.
- Large HDL Particle NumberThe number of large HDL particles in your blood. Labs mainly use it as one input to an insulin-resistance score, not as a stand-alone heart test.
- Large VLDL Particle NumberThe number of large, triglyceride-rich VLDL particles in your blood. It tends to follow your triglycerides and is a main input to the LP-IR score.
- LDL / HDL RatioYour LDL cholesterol divided by your HDL cholesterol. Some labs print it as one number that compares the 'bad' and 'good' cholesterol you carry.
- LDL Particle Number (LDL-P)The number of LDL particles in your blood. Some clinicians use it next to LDL cholesterol to see how many cholesterol-carrying particles you have.
- LDL Particle SizeThe typical width of your LDL particles. Small LDL goes with high triglycerides and insulin resistance, but size adds little once your particle count is known.
- Lp-PLA2 ActivityHow active an enzyme is that travels mostly on LDL particles and is found in artery plaque. Higher activity is linked to higher heart risk, but it is an add-on test.
- NT-proBNP (N-Terminal pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide)A protein fragment your heart releases when it is under strain. It helps clinicians judge whether symptoms like breathlessness could come from heart failure.
- Remnant CholesterolThe cholesterol in the leftover, fat-carrying particles in your blood, worked out from your lipid panel. Higher levels are linked to more heart disease.
- Triglyceride / HDL RatioYour triglycerides divided by your HDL cholesterol. Researchers use it as a simple hint of insulin resistance, but there is no standard cutoff.
- Troponin I (Cardiac, incl. High-Sensitivity)A protein released when heart muscle cells are damaged. Doctors use it to find out whether the heart muscle has been injured, most often when someone has chest pain.
- Troponin T (Cardiac, incl. High-Sensitivity)A protein released when heart muscle cells are damaged. Doctors use it to find out whether the heart muscle has been injured, most often when someone has chest pain.
- VLDL CholesterolThe cholesterol carried in VLDL particles, which move triglycerides through your blood. Most labs estimate it by dividing triglycerides by 5.
Calculators
- Non-HDL cholesterolFrom total cholesterol and HDL
- Remnant cholesterolFrom total cholesterol, HDL and LDL-C
- VLDL cholesterolFrom triglycerides
- Total cholesterol to HDL ratioFrom total cholesterol and HDL
- LDL to HDL ratioFrom LDL-C and HDL
- Triglyceride to HDL ratioFrom triglycerides and HDL
- ApoB to ApoA1 ratioFrom ApoB and ApoA1