Heart & lipids
Cholesterol blood test
A cholesterol blood test, or lipid profile, measures the fats in your blood that affect your heart and circulation: total cholesterol, LDL (the harmful kind), HDL (the protective kind) and triglycerides. Together they help estimate your risk of heart disease and stroke, which is why they are part of almost every general health check.
- What it measures
- Blood fats: total, LDL, HDL and triglycerides
- Sample
- Venous blood sample
- Fasting
- Not usually required
- Also known as
- lipid profile, lipids, LDL and HDL
- Included in 57 Health tests
- 8 panels, from £90
Cholesterol reference range
Guide only| Category | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | below 5.0 mmol/L |
| LDL (bad) cholesterol | below 3.0 mmol/L |
| HDL (good) cholesterol | above 1.0 (men) / 1.2 (women) mmol/L |
| Triglycerides (fasting) | below 1.7 mmol/L |
| Total cholesterol to HDL ratio | below 4.0 |
These are widely used UK target levels rather than a simple normal range, and the right LDL target is lower if your overall cardiovascular risk is high. What matters most is your total risk, worked out from things like age, blood pressure, smoking and family history (for example with a QRISK score), not any single number on its own.
These are general UK adult guide ranges from public health sources, shown for orientation only. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, assay, age and sex, so your result is always interpreted against the range quoted by the analysing laboratory on your report.
What does a high cholesterol level mean?
Raised total or LDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides, means more fatty material is available to build up in your artery walls over time, which raises the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. A high triglyceride level is also linked to carrying extra weight, a high alcohol intake, an underactive thyroid and poorly controlled blood sugar.
A high number is not read on its own. It is weighed against your HDL, your total cardiovascular risk and any family history, since some people inherit high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolaemia). Depending on the picture, the response ranges from diet and lifestyle changes to medication such as a statin, decided with your doctor.
What does a low cholesterol level mean?
A low LDL alongside a healthy HDL is generally good news for your heart. A low HDL is less favourable, because HDL helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries, and it tends to be lower with inactivity, smoking and excess weight.
A very low total cholesterol is uncommon and usually nothing to worry about, but occasionally it reflects an overactive thyroid, liver disease or undernutrition, so it is interpreted alongside your other results.
When to consider a cholesterol test
- A family history of heart disease or high cholesterol
- Raised blood pressure or diabetes
- Being overweight, or a smoker
- A general check of your heart-health risk
- Monitoring the effect of diet changes or a statin
- Age 40 or over, as risk rises with age
Frequently asked questions
This page is general information about a blood marker and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. A cholesterol test screens and gives context; results are interpreted by a clinician alongside your symptoms, history and other markers. Always follow the guidance on your own report.