Interpretation Of Lab Results

Introduction     What is a lipid profile?    The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease . The tests that make up a lipid profile are tests that have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels (hardening of the arteries).      What tests are included in a lipid profile?    The lipid profile includes total cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), LDL-cholesterol (often called bad cholesterol), and triglycerides . Sometimes the report will include additional calculated values such as HDL / Cholesterol ratio or a risk score based on lipid profile results, age, sex, and other risk factors.      How is a lipid profile used?    The lipid profile is used to guide providers in deciding how a person at risk should be treated. The results of the lipid profile are considered