Cholesterol Self Test

A cholesterol self test can be as accurate as a test at your doctor's office, if you follow the directions carefully. Most cholesterol self tests only measure total cholesterol, which can be misleading, because you can still have a low HDL level or a high LDL level. With a cholesterol self test, you prick your finger to get a drop of blood. Then you place the blood on special paper, which changes color based on the level of cholesterol.

 

Cholesterol Self Test: An Introduction

Having a blood cholesterol test is the only way to determine if you have high cholesterol. If you are 19 or older, you should have a cholesterol test once every five years; however, if you are already at risk for heart disease, your doctor will most likely want to monitor your cholesterol levels more frequently.
 
There are several types of cholesterol tests available. Each test can look at different components of cholesterol and fats in the blood, including:
 
Some tests, like a lipid profile (also known as a lipid panel)done at the doctor's office, will look at all four components. Other tests, like a cholesterol self test, only look at total cholesterol.
 

The Purpose of a Cholesterol Self Test

The purpose of a cholesterol self test is to measure total cholesterol. Total cholesterol, as the name implies, is the total amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Total cholesterol mostly combines levels of HDL, LDL, and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein).
 

How Does the Cholesterol Self Test Work?

When using a cholesterol self test, you prick your finger with a lancet to get a drop of blood.
 Then, put the drop of blood on a piece of paper that contains special chemicals. The paper will change color, depending on how much cholesterol is in your blood. Some cholesterol self testing kits use a small machine to tell you how much cholesterol is in the sample.
 
(Cholesterol Self Test Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD