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 determine your general health status; to screen for, diagnose, or monitor any one of a variety of diseases and conditions that affect blood cells. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm or a fingerstick

A random glucose test is one method for measuring the amount of glucose or sugar circulating in a person’s blood.