Total cholesterol is used to measure lipid status and metabolic disorders. Cholesterol is necessary for life, but is also associated with atherosclerosis. It is used to make hormones, vitamin D, and cell membranes. About two-thirds of the body's cholesterol is made by the liver and one-third obtained through the diet. Increased cholesterol is found in high fat diets, primary hypercholesterolemia, the nephritic syndrome, hypothyroidism, primary biliary cirrhosis and in some cases of diabetes. Low levels have been found in malnutrition, malabsorption, severe liver disease, polycythemia vera, etc.
REFERENCES:
- NIH Publication No. 01-3305, JAMA, 285:2486-97, May, 2001.
- Report of the National Cholesterol Treatment Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Arch Intern Med,1988, 148:36-9.
- Vance, D.E., Vance, J.E. Biochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Membranes. New York, Elsevier Science, 1996.
- CPT CODE:
- 82465
- COLLECTION CONTAINER:
- SST or red-stopper tube
- COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS:
- LCHO-Cholesterol-Total.pdf
- STATE & SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS:
- We cannot ship lab kits to NY, AK, HI, or international
- MINIMUM VOLUME:
- 0.5 mL
- NORMAL VALUES:
- Normal values are based on age. The "normal or reference ranges" has been lowered in recent years to combat the rapid increase in heart disease. In people under 19 years of age, the normal value is less than 170 mg/dL. In people over 19 years of age
- PATIENT PREP:
- None
- PROCESS METHOD:
- The methodology is by spectrophotometry.
- PROCESS TIME:
- 5 to 7 business days
- REJECTION CAUSES:
- Gross Hemolysis
- SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
- None
- SPECIMEN VOLUME:
- 1 mL serum
- TRANSPORT CONTAINER:
- Plastic transport tube
- TRANSPORT INSTRUCTIONS:
- Refrigerate or freeze
