Cholesterol blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Total Cholesterol (£39) is a single marker, useful as a quick check. Heart Health (£86) gives the full picture of cardiovascular risk in 14 markers: total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, the cholesterol to HDL ratio and triglycerides, plus apolipoproteins A-I, B, CII, CIII and E, small LDL, lipoprotein (a) and high-sensitivity CRP. Apolipoprotein B and Lp(a) add detail that a standard cholesterol test misses, and Lp(a) is largely inherited, so it only needs measuring once.

The price includes the blood draw at our clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 15189, UKAS Lab ID 9329) and a practitioner review of your result. No GP referral is needed.

What your result means

NHS guidance for healthy adults is a total cholesterol of 5 mmol/L or below, LDL of 3 mmol/L or below, non-HDL of 4 mmol/L or below, HDL of 1 mmol/L or above for men and 1.2 mmol/L or above for women, and triglycerides of 2.3 mmol/L or below. Your overall heart risk also depends on age, blood pressure, smoking and family history, so your practitioner reads the numbers together and suggests when to see your GP.

Preparing for your test

Fast for 8 to 12 hours, with water allowed, for the most reliable triglyceride and LDL results. We offer early appointments so you are not hungry for long.

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Questions

How much is a private cholesterol test?

Total cholesterol costs £39 and the full Heart Health panel costs £86 at Omnia in Chiswick, including the draw, Randox analysis and a practitioner review.

Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?

Fasting for 8 to 12 hours gives the most reliable triglyceride and LDL results, so we recommend it, especially for the Heart Health panel.

What is a good cholesterol level?

For healthy adults the NHS suggests total cholesterol of 5 mmol/L or below and LDL of 3 mmol/L or below, but your target depends on your overall heart risk.

What is Lp(a)?

Lipoprotein (a) is a cholesterol-carrying particle whose level is mostly set by your genes. A high level raises heart risk, and it only needs testing once.