Diagnosis of Lipid Disorders
Lipid disorders are diagnosed with blood tests that measure the level of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood.
Cholesterol levels are checked with a blood test. A small blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. You may need to fast for several hours, usually overnight, before your blood is taken. The test measures levels of:
- Total cholesterol
- Unhealthy LDL cholesterol
- Healthy HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
The readings are interpreted as follows:
| Level |
Interpretation |
| <200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L) |
Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dL (5.2-6.1 mmol/L) |
Borderline high |
| 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L) and above |
High |
| Level |
Interpretation |
| Less than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) |
Optimal |
| 100-129 mg/dL (2.6-3.3 mmol/L) |
Near optimal/above optimal |
| 130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.0 mmol/L) |
Borderline high |
| 160-189 mg/dL (4.1-4.8 mmol/L) |
High |
| >190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) and above |
Very high |
| Level |
Interpretation |
| 60 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) and above |
Protective against heart disease |
| Less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) |
A major heart disease risk factor |
| Level |
Interpretation |
| Less than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) |
Normal |
| 150-199 mg/dL (1.7-2.2 mmol/L) |
Borderline high |
| 200-499 mg/dL (2.3-5.6 mmol/L) |
High |
| 500 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L) and above |
Very high |
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter of blood; (mmol/L= millimoles per liter of blood)
References
ATP III guidelines at a glance quick desk reference. National Cholesterol Education Program. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atglance.pdf. Updated May 2001. Accessed March 22, 2013.
Hypercholesterolemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated February 11, 2013. Accessed March 22, 2013.
Hypertriglyceridemia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated January 17, 2013. Accessed March 22, 2013.