Download Cholesterol (CHOL, total cholesterol)

Melbourne Health Shared Pathology Service
HDL Cholesterol (HDLC, high density lipoprotein cholesterol)
See also
Cholesterol, total; LDL cholesterol [LDLC]; lipid study.
Specimen
5 ml blood, lithium-heparin or serum tube.
Patient does not need to be fasting.
Prolonged tourniquet use can artefactually increase levels by up to 20%.
Test availability
Reference interval
plasma or serum
adult
Assayed daily.
M
F
0.7 – 1.9 mmol/L
0.9 – 2.4 mmol/L
The National Heart Foundation recommends that total HDL-cholesterol in adults be
at least 1.0 mmol/L.
Uncertainty of measurement:
CVa: RMH, 2.7% at 1.9 mmol/L.
Clinical applications
Assessment of lipid status, particularly as a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Clinical interpretation
HDL-C is protective against vascular disease caused by lipid deposition.
HDL-C levels > 1.0 mmol/L are associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease.
HDL-C increases with
 exercise
 moderate alcohol consumption
 some lipid altering drug therapy.
Levels are unreliable for up to 8 weeks with acute illness (e.g., myocardial infarction, major acute
infection) and assessment should not be attempted during this time.
Links
References
Australian NHF Lipid Management Guidelines.
USA National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines.
Cardiovascular risk assessment profiles.
RCPA Manual of Test Use, Version 4. RCPA, Sydney, 2004.
Reference intervals sourced from Olympus assay literature.
This page last reviewed and verified: 30 Oct, 2009 by C Chiang.
CHBIS-01,11 (30/10/09)
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