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Test Code LPSC1 Lipid Panel, Serum


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: Fasting is preferred but not required unless directed by the ordering provider.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tube must be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tube must be centrifuged and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Useful For

Managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk using serum specimens

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
CHOL Cholesterol, Total, S Yes Yes
TRIG Triglycerides, S Yes, (Order TRIG1) Yes
HDCH Cholesterol, HDL, S Yes Yes
CLDL1 Cholesterol, LDL, Calculated, S No Yes
NHDCH Cholesterol, Non-HDL, Calculated, S No Yes
INTC1 Fasting (8 HR or more) No Yes

Method Name

CHOL, TRIG, HDCH: Enzymatic Colorimetric

CLDL1, NHDCH: Calculation

Reporting Name

Lipid Panel, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  30 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject

Clinical Information

Lipoprotein cholesterol measurements are essential in managing risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Atherosclerosis is defined by a buildup of plaque within arterial walls. ASCVD includes coronary heart disease, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. ASCVD develops over decades and is often asymptomatic until the patient experiences a life-threatening event such as a heart attack, stroke, or aneurysm.

 

Cholesterol is a lipid that is synthesized in most tissues and actively absorbed from the diet. There is a strong association between serum cholesterol concentrations and cardiovascular disease.

 

Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins. Some lipoproteins carry a stronger risk of cardiovascular disease while others are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. Total cholesterol concentration includes the sum of all "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Therefore, total cholesterol is recommended to be interpreted in context of a lipid panel that includes high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride measurements.

 

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the primary lipoprotein responsible for atherogenic plaque. Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) is also atherogenic and the combination of LDL-C and VLDL-C is called non-HDL cholesterol and often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, and non-HDL cholesterol are all directly associated with risk for ASCVD.

 

HDL-C is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Excess cholesterol is actively pumped into HDL to be carried in the blood circulation and cleared by the liver in a process known as reverse cholesterol transport. For these reasons, HDL-C is often referred to as "good" cholesterol.

 

Triglycerides are oily lipids carried in the blood by lipoproteins. Triglycerides are primarily carried by VLDL, chylomicrons, and remnant lipoproteins. Recent evidence supports triglycerides as an independent risk factor for ASCVD. Several conditions are associated with increased plasma triglycerides, including obesity, pregnancy, physical inactivity, excess alcohol intake, kidney disease, and diabetes. Elevated triglycerides are often associated with reduced HDL-C, insulin resistance, hypertension, fatty liver disease, and increased waist circumference. In addition to cardiovascular risk, elevated triglycerides confer a risk for acute pancreatitis.

Reference Values

The National Lipid Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program have set the following guidelines for lipids in a context of cardiovascular risk for adults 18 years and older:

 

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

Desirable: <200 mg/dL

Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL

High: ≥240 mg/dL

 

TRIGLYCERIDES

Normal: <150 mg/dL

Borderline High: 150-199 mg/dL

High: 200-499 mg/dL

Very High: ≥500 mg/dL

 

HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (HDL) CHOLESTEROL

Males

≥40 mg/dL

Females

≥50 mg/dL

 

LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (LDL) CHOLESTEROL

Desirable: <100 mg/dL

Above Desirable: 100-129 mg/dL

Borderline High: 130-159 mg/dL

High: 160-189 mg/dL

Very High: ≥190 mg/dL

 

NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL

Desirable: <130 mg/dL

Above Desirable: 130-159 mg/dL

Borderline High: 160-189 mg/dL

High: 190-219 mg/dL

Very High: ≥220 mg/dL

 

The Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents has set the following guidelines for lipids in a context of cardiovascular risk for children ages 2-17:

Reference values have not been established for patients who are younger than 24 months.

 

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

Acceptable: <170 mg/dL

Borderline High: 170-199 mg/dL

High: ≥200 mg/dL

 

TRIGLYCERIDES

2-9 years:

Acceptable: <75 mg/dL

Borderline High: 75-99 mg/dL

High: ≥100mg/dL

 

10-17 years:

Acceptable: <90 mg/dL

Borderline High: 90-129 mg/dL

High: ≥130 mg/dL

 

HDL CHOLESTEROL

Low HDL: <40 mg/dL

Borderline Low: 40-45 mg/dL

Acceptable: >45 mg/dL

 

LDL CHOLESTEROL

Acceptable: <110 mg/dL

Borderline High: 110-129 mg/dL

High: ≥130 mg/dL

 

NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL

Acceptable: <120 mg/dL

Borderline High: 120-144 mg/dL

High: ≥145 mg/dL

Interpretation

Maintaining desirable concentrations of lipids lowers atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Establishing appropriate treatment strategies and lipid goals require blood lipid values be considered in context with other risk factors including, age, sex, smoking status, and medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

 

Triglycerides results of 500 mg/dL or above are severely elevated increasing the risk of pancreatitis. Triglycerides can be lowered by increasing physical activity, low-fat diet, weight loss, and/or triglyceride lowering pharmaceuticals.

 

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

 

High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol can be increased by the same lifestyle changes that reduce risk for cardiovascular disease; physical activity, smoking cessation, and eating healthier. However, medications that specifically increase HDL levels have failed to reduce cardiovascular disease. Extremely low HDL values (<20 mg/dL) may indicate liver disease or inherited dyslipidemia.

 

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol results of 190 mg/dL or above in adults (≥160 mg/dL in children) are severely elevated and may indicate familial hypercholesterolemia.

 

For non-HDL cholesterol results of 220 mg/dL or above, a possible inherited hyperlipidemia diagnosis should be considered.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 day

Specimen Retention Time

7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

80061-Lipid panel (if all 3 performed)

82465-Cholesterol, total (if all 3 are not performed)

84478-Triglycerides (if all 3 are not performed)

83718-Cholesterol, HDL (if all 3 are not performed)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
LPSC1 Lipid Panel, S 24331-1

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
CHOL Cholesterol, Total, S 2093-3
HDCH Cholesterol, HDL, S 2085-9
NHDCH Cholesterol, Non-HDL, Calculated, S 43396-1
TRIG Triglycerides, S 2571-8
CLDL1 Cholesterol, LDL, Calculated, S 13457-7
INTC1 Fasting (8 HR or more) 87527-8