To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting Follow any instructions you are given and tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted For youths without risk factors testing may be done without fasting Normal Test Result: 125 to 200

To help assess your risk of developing cardiovascular disease Specimen:A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm When To Get Tested: No current consensus exists on when to get tested hs-CRP is often ordered in conjunction with other tests that are performed to assess risk of heart disease such as a lipid profile cholesterol triglycerides HDL-C LDL-C when your healthcare provider would like additional information on your risk Test Preparation:You may be instructed to fast for 9-12 hours before the blood sample is taken if a lipid profile also is going to be done at the same time You should be healthy at the time of the sample collection without any recent illnesses infections inflammation or injuries Normal Test Result: normal reading is less than 10 milligram per liter (mg/L)

To help determine if you are folate-deficient or vitamin B12-deficient to determine if you are at increased risk of heart attack or stroke to help diagnose a rare inherited disorder called homocystinuria Specimen:A blood sample taken by needle from a vein in the arm sometimes a urine sample in addition to the blood sample When To Get Tested: When your healthcare provider suspects that you have a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency when you have had a heart attack or stroke and do not have traditional risk factors such as unhealthy lipid levels as part of routine newborn screening or when a health practitioner suspects that an infant or young person may have homocystinuria Test Preparation:You may be instructed to fast for 10 to 12 hours prior to this test Normal Test Result: less than 15 micromoles per liter (mcmol/L)

To help assess the risk of developing heart disease Specimen:When other lipid tests such as a lipid profile are being performed When To Get Tested: When other lipid tests such as a lipid profile are being performed Test Preparation:Usually fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water permitted and no alcohol for 24 hours before the test follow any instructions you are given Normal Test Result: from 2 mg/dL to 30 mg/dL (0.1 mmol/l to 1.7 mmol/l)

To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting Follow any instructions you are given and tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted For youths without risk factors testing may be done without fasting Normal Test Result: < 100

To screen for risk of developing heart disease to monitor effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy Specimen:Most often a blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm Sometimes cholesterol is measured using a drop of blood collected by puncturing the skin on a finger A fingerstick sample is typically used when cholesterol is being measured on a portable testing device for example at a health fair When To Get Tested: Screening as part of a regular health exam with a lipid profile when no risk factors for heart disease are present adults should be tested once every four to six years children teens and young adults should be tested once between the ages of 9 and 11 and then again between the ages of 17 and 21 Monitoring may be done more frequently and at regular intervals when risk factors for heart disease are present when prior results showed high risk levels and or when undergoing treatment for unhealthy lipid levels Test Preparation:Cholesterol tests typically require fasting for 9-12 hours before the test only water is permitted Your healthcare practitioner may decide that you may be tested without fasting Follow any instructions you are given and tell the person drawing your blood whether or not you have fasted For youths without risk factors testing may be done without fasting Normal Test Result: > 50