Biomarkers · Chemical
Lipoprotein a
A lipoprotein (a) test measures the level of lipoprotein (a) in your blood.
Lipoprotein (a) Blood Test, MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Also listed as
- Lipoprotein (a)
- Primary unit
- nmol/L
- LOINC codes
- 43583-4
- Tests that measure Lipoprotein a
- Labcorp 2, Quest Diagnostics 2
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
Lipoprotein a, nmol/L
- Lab reference ranges2 labs
- Diagnostic cut-offs4 cut-offs
All 6 published ranges, with sources
Lab reference ranges
Quest, adultsbelow 75 nmol/L
Adults
Quest prints 75 to 125 nmol/L as moderate and above 125 nmol/L as high event risk, citing Tsimikas, JACC 2017.
Quest Diagnostics Test Directory, Lipoprotein (a) (34604), 2025
Labcorp, adultsbelow 75 nmol/L
Adults
Labcorp prints below 75 nmol/L as low, 75 to below 125 as intermediate and 125 or higher as high Lp(a)-attributable ASCVD risk.
Diagnostic cut-offs
EAS 2022 rule-outbelow 75 nmol/L
Adults
Below 30 mg/dL or 75 nmol/L rules out Lp(a)-attributable risk; 75 to 125 nmol/L is a grey zone.
EAS 2022 rule-in125 nmol/L and above
Adults
Above 50 mg/dL or 125 nmol/L rules in Lp(a)-attributable risk.
AHA/ACC 2018 risk-enhancing factor125 nmol/L and above
Adults in primary prevention
Lp(a) of 50 mg/dL or 125 nmol/L or higher is a risk-enhancing factor.
ESC/EAS 2019 extreme level430 nmol/L and above
Adults
Above 180 mg/dL (430 nmol/L) may carry a lifetime risk similar to heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.
Tests
Check the catalog code, specimen, method and preparation for every test that measures Lipoprotein a. Select up to five tests to compare them side by side.
Labcorp 2 tests
Single-analyte tests
Lipoprotein(a) 120188
Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround 2 - 4 days
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Immunoturbidimetric
- Preparation
- Intake of alcohol, aspirin, niacin and estrogen supplements have the potential of causing a misrepresentation of true Lp(a) concentrations.
- Collection
- Separate serum or plasma from cells as soon as possible (within two hours).
- Reference notes
- Concentration | Risk <75 nmol/L | Low Lp(a)-attributable ASCVD risk 75 – <125 nmol/L | Intermediate Lp(a)-attributable ASCVD risk ≥125 nmol/L High Lp(a)-attributable ASCVD risk, with increasing risk with higher Lp(a) values
Panels that include this biomarker
Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Profile 500140
4 analytes · Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround 2 - 5 days
Labcorp catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- See individual tests.
- Preparation
- Do not draw from an arm with a heparin lock or heparinized catheter.
- Collection
- Citrated plasma samples should be collected by double centrifugation. Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate.1 Evacuated collection tubes must be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood to anticoagulant ratio.2,3 The sample should be mixed immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood. A discard tube is not required prior to collection of coagulation samples, except when using a winged blood collection device (ie, "butterfly"), in which case a discard tube should be used.4,5 When noncitrate tubes are collected for other tests, collect sterile and nonadditive (red-top) tubes prior to citrate (blue-top) tubes. Any tube containing an alternate anticoagulant should be collected after the blue-top tube. Gel-barrier tubes and serum tubes with clot initiators should also be collected after the citrate tubes. Centrifuge for 10 minutes and carefully remove 2/3 of the plasma using a plastic transfer pipette, being careful not to disturb the cells. Deliver to a plastic transport tube, cap, and recentrifuge for 10 minutes. Use a second plastic pipette to remove the plasma, staying clear of the platelets at the bottom of the tube. Transfer the plasma into a Labcorp PP transpak frozen purple tube with screw cap (Labcorp No. 49482). Freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested. Please print and use the Volume Guide for Coagulation Testing to ensure proper draw volume.
Quest Diagnostics 2 tests
Single-analyte tests
Cardio IQ® Lipoprotein (a) 91729
Serum · Fasting not stated · Turnaround Set up: Sun, Tues, Thurs
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Immunoturbidmetric
- Reference notes
- <75 nmol/L Risk nmol/L Optimal <75 Moderate 75-125 High >125 Cardiovascular event risk category cut points (optimal, moderate, high) are based on Tsimikas S. JACC 2017;69:692-711.
Lipoprotein (a) 34604
Serum · Fasting not stated
Quest Diagnostics catalog pageMethod and collection
- Method
- Immunoturbidimetric
- Reference notes
- <75 nmol/L Risk nmol/L Optimal <75 Moderate 75-125 High >125 Cardiovascular event risk category cut points (optimal, moderate, high) are based on Tsimikas S. JACC 2017;69:692-711.
0 of 5 tests selected
Pick one moreGoals and conditions
We link Lipoprotein a to these goals and conditions from named guidelines and studies.
Heart healthGoal, primary marker
The ESC/EAS guideline advises measuring Lp(a) at least once in each person's lifetime.
HypercholesterolemiaCondition, ICD-10 E78.00, companion marker
The AHA/ACC guideline lists Lp(a) of 50 mg/dL or 125 nmol/L or higher as a risk-enhancing factor.
Sources
2 tests: codes, specimens, methods, preparation and reference intervals.
Quest Diagnostics test catalog
2 tests: codes, specimens, methods, preparation and reference intervals.
Consensus statement: Range: EAS 2022 rule-in, Range: EAS 2022 rule-out
Clinical guideline: Hypercholesterolemia (companion), Range: AHA/ACC 2018 risk-enhancing factor
Clinical guideline: Heart health (primary), Range: ESC/EAS 2019 extreme level
Labcorp test menu, Lipoprotein (a) (120188), 2026
Laboratory catalog: Range: Labcorp, adults
Quest Diagnostics Test Directory, Lipoprotein (a) (34604), 2025
Laboratory catalog: Range: Quest, adults
MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
The description at the top of this page.
LOINC 43583-4
Regenstrief Institute codes that identify the same result across labs.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for Lipoprotein a
Registered studies that measure Lipoprotein a, 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.
Spotted an error? Email hello@biomarkerlens.com with the page URL and the primary source that corrects the entry.