What is the blood cholesterol (lipid panel) test?
A blood cholesterol test (lipid panel) usually measures 3 different kinds of lipids in the blood, all of which are related to a fatlike substance called cholesterol. Most of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your liver from the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins you eat. You also get cholesterol by eating animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. The 3 kinds of lipids measured in a lipid panel are: • LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) • HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) • triglycerides. The lipid panel also measures total cholesterol, which is the sum of all the types of cholesterol in your blood. Another name for this test is lipid profile.
