Cholesterol Test

You can have high cholesterol and not realize it. Most of the 65 million Americans with high cholesterol have no symptoms. So it's important to have your blood cholesterol levels checked. All adults age 20 and older should have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every 5 years. If you have elevated cholesterol, you'll need to have it tested more often. Talk with your doctor to find out how often is best for you. The recommended cholesterol test is called a "lipoprotein profile." It measures the levels of total cholesterol (which includes the cholesterol in all lipoproteins), LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.

The lipoprotein profile is done after a 9- to 12-hour fast. A small sample of blood is taken from your finger or arm. If you don't fast, you can still have your total cholesterol and HDL levels measured. The levels are measured as milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood or mg/dL.

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