Plasma
Fluid
Adult patient:
Heparin gel tube
Minimum blood volume: 5 mL
Plain bottle
Minimum volume: 10 mL
Paediatric patient:
Paediatric heparin tube
Number of vials: 1
Minimum blood volume: 1.3 mL
Authorisation code required
No
No
24 Hr available service
Yes
(Call extension: 3353 for express result)
No
Method
Spectrophotometry
Reference interval
|
Cholesterol: |
< 5.2 mmol/L desirable 5.2 - 6.2 mmol/L borderline high > 6.2 mmol/L high |
|
HDL Cholesterol: |
Male > 1.0 mmol/L Female > 1.3 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides: | < 1.7 mmol/L desirable |
|
LDL Cholesterol: |
< 2.6 mmol/L if patient has CHD or CHD - equivalent risk (optional goal < 1.8 mmol/L) < 3.4 mmol/L if patient has 2 or more risk factors < 4.1 mmol/L if patient has 0 - 1 risk factor |
(Source: Implications of Recent Clinical Trials for NCEP ATP III Guidelines. Circulation 2004; 110: 227 - 39)
|
Non HDL cholesterol: |
< 4.2 mmol/L target for non-diabetics < 3.4 mmol/L target for diabetics |
(Source: Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 1916 - 21)
Clinical indication
Assessment of lipid status, especially in patients at high risk of developing hyperlipidaemia, e.g. diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism
Used in the calculation of LDL cholesterol by the Friedewald formula.
Result interpretation
Increased levels seen in primary hypertriglyceridaemic states, and secondary to nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, oral contraceptive use or corticosteroid medication.
Now generally accepted as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Measurement of uncertainty
Frequency of measurement
Daily