Home-Use Tests - Cholesterol
What does this test do?
This is a home-use test kit to measure total cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) in your blood. High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
("good" cholesterol) helps protect your heart, but low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) ("bad" cholesterol) can clog the arteries of your heart. Some
cholesterol tests also measure triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
What type of test is this?
This is a quantitative test—you find out the amount of total cholesterol
present in your sample.
Why should you do this test?
You should do this test to find out if you have high total cholesterol.
High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. When the blood vessels
of your heart become clogged by cholesterol, your heart does not receive enough
oxygen. This can cause heart disease.
How often should you test for cholesterol?
If you are more than 20 years old, you should test your cholesterol about
every 5 years. If your doctor has you on a special diet or drugs to control
your cholesterol, you may need to check your cholesterol more frequently.
Follow your doctor's recommendations about how often you test your cholesterol.
What should your cholesterol levels be?
Your total cholesterol level should be 200mg/dL or less, according to recommendations
in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Third Adult Treatment
Panel (ATP III). You should try to keep your LDL values less than 100 mg/dL,
your HDL values greater or equal to 40 mg/dL, and your triglyceride values
less than 150 mg/dL.
How accurate is this test?
This test is about as accurate as the test your doctor uses, but you must
follow the directions carefully.
Total cholesterol tests vary in accuracy from brand to brand. Information
about the test's accuracy is printed on its package. Tests that say they are
"traceable" to a program of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) may be more accurate than others.
What do you do if your test shows high cholesterol?
Talk to your doctor if your test shows that your cholesterol is higher than
200 mg/dL. Many things can cause high cholesterol levels including diet, exercise,
and other factors. Your doctor may want you to test your cholesterol again.
How do you do this test?
You prick your finger with a lancet to get a drop of blood. Then put the
drop of blood on a piece paper that contains special chemicals. The paper
will change color depending on how much cholesterol is in your blood. Some
testing kits use a small machine to tell you how much cholesterol there is
in the sample.
Are there home tests for HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)?
Yes, FDA has cleared home tests for HDL Cholesterol.
Are there home tests for triglycerides?
Yes, FDA has cleared home tests for triglycerides.
Where can you get more information about cholesterol and cholesterol testing?
Back to Consumer Information on Home-Use
Tests
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