A lipid panel is a blood test that measures the amount of certain fat molecules called lipids in your blood. The test is used to monitor and screen for your risk of cardiovascular disease. The panel includes three measurements of your cholesterol levels and a measurement of your triglycerides. The different kinds of cholesterol and other fats in your blood are together called lipids. The panel of tests helps predict your risk for heart disease and stroke by measuring the amount of cholesterol and other fats in your blood, including:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL ("bad") cholesterol
- HDL ("good") cholesterol
- Triglycerides, another type of fat that causes hardening of the arteries
A lipid panel is important because cholesterol can clog your arteries, leading to heart disease and stroke. Healthcare providers use lipid panels to help assess someone’s cardiovascular health by analyzing cholesterol in their blood and to help diagnose other health conditions. Reasons a provider may order a lipid panel include:
- To monitor and screen for your risk of cardiovascular disease
- To diagnose other medical conditions, such as diseases that affect the liver
- To identify if you are at high risk of cardiovascular disease before you develop problems like heart disease or heart attack
- To monitor your response to treatment and adjust
You may need to not eat or drink anything but water for 12 to 14 hours before this test. In addition, be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. A healthcare provider called a phlebotomist usually performs blood draws, including those for a lipid panel, but any healthcare provider who is trained in drawing blood can perform this task.
