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Biomarkers · Chemical

LDL Chol Calc

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
NIH
Primary unit
mg/dL
LOINC codes
13457-7, 2089-1
Tests that measure LDL Chol Calc
Labcorp 29, Quest Diagnostics 8

Ranges

Compare the reference ranges labs publish with guideline targets, diagnostic cut-offs, study-based ranges and practitioner targets. Move across the rows to check a value against each range, and open a source from the legend. How to read these ranges

LDL Chol Calc, mg/dL

LabsVery high riskHigh riskModerate riskLow riskAHA/ACC 2018 nonstatin threshold, very high risk
Cut-offs
  • Lab reference ranges2 labs
  • ESC/EAS 2019 targetsbelow 55–116
  • AHA/ACC 2018 nonstatin threshold, very high riskbelow 70
  • Diagnostic cut-offs2 cut-offs
All 9 published ranges, with sources

Lab reference ranges

Diagnostic cut-offs

Guideline targets

Tests

Check the catalog code, specimen, method and preparation for every test that measures LDL Chol Calc. Select up to five tests to compare them side by side.

Labcorp 29 tests

Panels that include this biomarker

  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia Lipid Profile With Interpretation 409500

    5 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day

    Method 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
    Labcorp catalog page

  • Lipid Panel 303756

    5 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day

    Method 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.
    Labcorp catalog page

  • Lipid Profile, Fasting, Pediatric 373632

    5 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Within 1 day

    Method 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.
    Labcorp catalog page

  • Lipoprotein Phenotyping Profile 235036

    5 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround 5 - 9 days

    Method and collection
    Method
    Electrophoretic with Frederickson phenotyping criteria
    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 from cells within 45 minutes of collection. Lipid panels are best avoided following acute myocardial infarct, for up to three months, although cholesterol can be measured in the first 24 hours.
    Reference notes
    Normal pattern
    Labcorp catalog page

  • PrEP Use Only: Lipid Panel 401423

    5 analytes · Serum · No fasting · Turnaround Within 1 day

    Method and collection
    Method
    Colorimetric; Enzymatic
    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.
    Labcorp catalog page

Quest Diagnostics 8 tests

Panels that include this biomarker

  • Lipid Panel with Reflex to Direct LDL 14852

    6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated

    Method 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
    Quest Diagnostics catalog page

  • Lipid Panel, Standard 7600

    6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated

    Method 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
    Quest Diagnostics catalog page

  • Lipoprotein Fractionation Ultracentrifugation 36435

    6 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Set up: Mon-Fri (a.m.); Report available: 7 days

    Method 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
    Quest Diagnostics catalog page

  • ASCVD Risk Panel with Score 92053

    7 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated

    Method and collection
    Method
    Enzymatic • 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
    For risk calculations to be performed, the following patient specific information have to be provided at time of order: Age: Years Gender: M (for male) or F (for female) Race-African American: Y (for yes) or N (for no) Systolic Blood Pressure: mmHg Treatment for High Blood Pressure: Y (for yes) or N (for no) Diabetes Status: Y (for yes) or N (for no) Smoking Status: Y (for Yes) or N (for no)
    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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASCVD Risk Scores | See Laboratory Report
    Quest Diagnostics catalog page

  • Lipid Panel with Ratios 19543

    7 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated

    Method 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 LDL/HDL Ratio (Calc) Below Average Risk <2.28 <2.34 Average Risk 2.29-4.90 2.35-4.12 Moderate Risk 4.91-7.12 4.13-5.56 High Risk >7.13 >5.57 Non-HDL Cholesterol <20 Years <120 <120 ≥20 Years <130 <130
    Quest Diagnostics catalog page

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Goals and conditions

We link LDL Chol Calc to these goals and conditions from named guidelines and studies.

Sources

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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