What is a Lipid Panel?
Lipid Panel/Coronary risk profile Guide
A coronary risk profile is a battery of blood tests to measure one’s cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The profile can help determine One’s risk for heart disease.
Alternative Names
Lipoprotein/cholesterol analysis; Lipid profile; Lipid panel; Hyperlipidemia – testing
How The Test Is Performed
Blood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with antiseptic. The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
The blood is sent to a laboratory, where the following are measured:
Low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol)
High density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol
Total cholesterol
Triglycerides
Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL cholesterol, though this is often calculated from the triglyceride level)
