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HelpTest ID: CHOL Cholesterol, Total, Serum
Reporting Name
Cholesterol, Total, SUseful For
Evaluation of cardiovascular risk
Specimen Type
SerumSpecimen Required
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
| Frozen | 90 days |
Reference Values
The National Lipid Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program have set the following guidelines for lipids in a context of cardiovascular disease for adults 18 years old and older:
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Desirable: <200 mg/dL
Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL
High: ≥240 mg/dL
The Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents has set the following guidelines for lipids in a context of cardiovascular disease for children 2 to 17 years of age:
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Acceptable: <170 mg/dL
Borderline High: 170-199 mg/dL
High: ≥200 mg/dL
Reference values have not been established for patients who younger than 24 months of age.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
82465
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| CHOL | Cholesterol, Total, S | 2093-3 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| CHOL | Cholesterol, Total, S | 2093-3 |
Clinical Information
Cholesterol is a lipid that is synthesized in most tissues and actively absorbed from the diet. There is a strong association between serum cholesterol concentrations and cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins. Some lipoproteins carry a stronger risk of cardiovascular disease while others are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. Total cholesterol concentration includes the sum of all "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Therefore, total cholesterol is recommended to be interpreted in context of a lipid panel that includes high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride measures.
Low levels of cholesterol can be seen in disorders that include hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, and deficiencies of apolipoproteins.
Interpretation
The National Lipid Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) have set the following guidelines for total cholesterol:
Desirable: <200 mg/dL
Borderline High: 200 to 239 mg/dL
High: ≥240 mg/dL
The recommended clinical decision points of 200 mg/dL and 240 mg/dL total cholesterol correspond to the 50th percentile and 90th percentile of healthy U.S. adults, respectively.
Values in hyperthyroidism usually are in the lower normal range; malabsorption values may be below 100 mg/dL, while apolipoprotein B deficiency values usually are below 80 mg/dL.
Clinical Reference
1. Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al: 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical practice guidelines. circulation. 2019 Jun 18;139(25):e1082-e1143. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
2. Jacobson TA, Ito MK, Maki KC, et al: National Lipid Association recommendations for patient-centered management of dyslipidemia: Part 1-executive summary. J Clin Lipidol. 2014;8(5):473-488. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2014.07.007
3. Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents: Summary report. Pediatrics. 2011 Dec;128 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):S213-S256. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-2107C
Report Available
Same day/1 dayMethod Name
Enzymatic Colorimetric
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Cardiovascular Test Request (T724) with the specimen.
mml-lipids-lipoproteins