Cholesterol Test

This test measure fats in the bloodstream. One of these fats, cholesterol, is produced naturally by the liver to make cell membranes and some hormones. A little goes a long way -- too much can block blood vessels, causing a heart attack or stroke.

Who needs it Most doctors recommend a cholesterol screening every three to five years for adults over age 20 whose levels are normal. If you have high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease, you should have your cholesterol checked yearly.

How it's done A fingerstick blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis.

What the results mean A total cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) is desirable; 200 to 239 mg/dl is borderline high; 240 mg/dl and over is high. For a more sensitive indicator of heart disease risk, however, you need measurements of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), substances that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream. Alone or in combination, a high total cholesterol, a high LDL level, or a low HDL level can indicate likely heart disease. A healthy LDL reading is anything less than 130 mg/dl. A good HDL reading is 50 to 60 mg/dl for women and 40 to 50 mg/dl for men.

A triglyceride reading of less than 200 mg/dl is considered normal; 200 to 400 mg/dl is borderline high; 400 to 1000 is high. High readings are linked to coronary artery disease and untreated diabetes in some people.

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