Biomarkers · Chemical
Cholesterol, Total
A cholesterol test is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in your blood and every cell of your body.
Cholesterol Levels, MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Also listed as
- total cholesterol, cholesterol, serum cholesterol
- Primary unit
- mg/dL
- LOINC codes
- 2093-3
- Tests that measure Cholesterol, Total
- Labcorp 35, Quest Diagnostics 17
Ranges
Each lab publishes a reference range for the population groups it tests, usually the middle 95% of results. These intervals describe that population, not an optimal or healthy target. How ranges differ
Quest Diagnostics, Cardio IQ® Cholesterol, Total 91717
| Population | Interval |
|---|---|
| <20 Years | <170 mg/dL |
| ≥20 Years | <200 mg/dL |
Tests
Check the catalog code, specimen, method and preparation for every test that measures Cholesterol, Total. Select up to five tests to compare them side by side.
Labcorp 35 tests
Single-analyte tests
Cholesterol, Total 001065
Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Enzymatic
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
- Reference notes
- See table. Age (y) Acceptable Borderline High 0 to 19 <170 (or 100−169) 170−199 ≥200 >19 <200 (or 100−199) 200−239 ≥240
Panels that include this biomarker
Lipid Profile, Nonfasting, Pediatric 373634
3 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Enzymatic
- Preparation
- Nonfasting
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma or from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Non-HDL Cholesterol Profile 344265
3 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- See individual tests.
- Preparation
- Patient should be on a stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of the specimen.
- Collection
- Separate serum from cells within 45 minutes of venipuncture. Lipid profiles are best avoided following acute myocardial infarct, for up to three months, although cholesterol can be measured in the first 24 hours.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia Lipid Profile With Interpretation 409500
5 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- See individual tests.
- Preparation
- Patient should be on a stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of blood. Fasting is not necessary for this profile, however, fasting (12 to 14 hours preferred; eight hours acceptable) prior to collection of the specimen is recommended where the triglyceride value provides a prior diagnostic information such as screening for familial hypercholesterolemia or early onset heart disease, pancreatitis, or confirming hypertriglyceridemia.
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection. Lipid panels are best avoided for three months following acute myocardial infarction, although cholesterol can be measured in the first 24 hours.
- Reference notes
- See table. Interpretation Age (y) Total Cholesterol (mg/dL) LDL-calculated (mg/dL) FH lipid decision points are age dependent. Consider possible FH if either the Total Cholesterol or LDL-calculated values are exceeded. <16 | >260 | >155 ≥16 | >290 | >190
Lipid Panel 303756
5 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- See individual tests.
- Preparation
- Patient should be on a stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of blood. Fasting is not necessary for this profile, however, fasting (12 to 14 hours preferred; eight hours acceptable) prior to collection of the specimen is recommended where the triglyceride value provides a prior diagnostic information such as screening for familial hypercholesterolemia or early onset heart disease, pancreatitis, or confirming hypertriglyceridemia.
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of collection. Lipid panels are best avoided for three months following acute myocardial infarction, although cholesterol can be measured in the first 24 hours.
Lipid Profile, Fasting, Pediatric 373632
5 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Within 1 day
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Enzymatic
- Preparation
- Patient should be on stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of blood, and should fast for 12 to 14 hours before collection of the specimen.
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma or from cells within 45 minutes of collection.
Quest Diagnostics 17 tests
Single-analyte tests
Cardio IQ® Cholesterol, Total 91717
Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Set up: Tues-Sat
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
Cholesterol, Total 334
Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 3 days
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
- Reference notes
- <20 Years <170 mg/dL ≥20 Years <200 mg/dL
Panels that include this biomarker
Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol with Ratio 7432
3 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: "N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been. . . determined to interfere with assays for. . . cholesterol, uric acid" where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hrs and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hrs.
- Collection
- Centrifuge within 30-60 minutes following collection
- Reference notes
- Total Cholesterol Male (mg/dL) Female (mg/dL) <20 Years <170 <170 ≥20 Years <200 <200 HDL Cholesterol <20 Years >45 >45 ≥20 Years ≥40 ≥50 Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (Calc) <5.0 <5.0
Lipid Panel, Non-Fasting without Triglycerides 91247
4 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
- Reference notes
- Total Cholesterol | Male (mg/dL) | Female (mg/dL) <20 Years | <170 | <170 ≥20 Years | <200 | <200 HDL Cholesterol <20 Years | >45 | >45 ≥20 Years | ≥40 | ≥50 Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calc) | <5.0 | <5.0 Non-HDL Cholesterol (calc) <20 Years | <120 | <120 ≥20 Years | <130 | <130
Lipid Panel with Reflex to Direct LDL 14852
6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
- Collection
- Centrifuge within 30-60 minutes following collection
- Reference notes
- Total Cholesterol Male (mg/dL) Female (mg/dL) <20 Years <170 <170 ≥20 Years <200 <200 HDL Cholesterol <20 Years >45 >45 ≥20 Years ≥40 ≥50 Triglycerides ≤9 Years <75 <75 10-19 Years <90 <90 ≥20 Years <150 <150 LDL-Cholesterol (Calc) <20 Years <110 <110 ≥20 Years <100 <100 Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (Calc) <5.0 <5.0 Non-HDL Cholesterol <20 Years <120 <120 ≥20 Years <130 <130
Lipid Panel, Standard 7600
6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Spectrophotometry (SP)
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
- Reference notes
- Total Cholesterol | Male (mg/dL) | Female (mg/dL) <20 Years | <170 | <170 ≥20 Years | <200 | <200 HDL Cholesterol <20 Years | >45 | >45 ≥20 Years | ≥40 | ≥50 Triglycerides ≤9 Years | <75 | <75 10-19 Years | <90 | <90 ≥20 Years | <150 | <150 LDL-Cholesterol (calc) <20 Years | <110 | <110 ≥20 Years | <100 | <100 Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calc) | <5.0 | <5.0 Non-HDL Cholesterol (calc) <20 Years | <120 | <120 ≥20 Years | <130 | <130
Lipoprotein Fractionation Ultracentrifugation 36435
6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Set up: Mon-Fri (a.m.); Report available: 7 days
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Ultracentrifugation • Colorimetric • Enzymatic
- Preparation
- If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required. The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been determined to interfere with assays for cholesterol and uric acid where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
- Collection
- Pleural fluid is not an acceptable specimen type
- Reference notes
- See Laboratory Report
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35 tests: codes, specimens, methods, preparation and reference intervals.
Quest Diagnostics test catalog
17 tests: codes, specimens, methods, preparation and reference intervals.
MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
The description at the top of this page.
LOINC 2093-3
Regenstrief Institute codes that identify the same result across labs.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for Cholesterol, Total
Registered studies that measure Cholesterol, Total, on the U.S. National Library of Medicine registry.
Verify these ranges and sources
We compile this page from named laboratory catalogs, guidelines and studies. Labs calculate reference intervals from the people they test, for one assay method and one population group, so an interval describes that population rather than an optimal target.
Interpret your own results with a licensed clinician, or track your lab history and health goals in Aumnivida.
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