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Synonyms |
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Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
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Clinical
Indications |
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Cholesterol circulates in blood bound to lipoproteins; the two
main ones being low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density
lipoprotein (HDL). High levels of LDL are associated with
a high risk of coronary disease.
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Part of
Profile |
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Lipids
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Request Form |
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Combined Pathology Blood form
(Yellow/Black)
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Availability |
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On request.
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Patient
Preparation |
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Patients must fast for 10 hours prior to blood collection (for
follow up tests diabetic patients may not need to fast, but
levels may be decreased as a result of recent food intake).
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Turnaround
Time |
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Same day
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Specimen |
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Serum
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Volume |
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2 ml
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Container |
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Yellow top (SST) tube
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Causes for
Rejection |
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Unlabelled sample.
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Reference
Range |
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The
concept of a reference range is flawed and acceptable levels
depend on presence of other coronary risk factors. For patients
with established coronary disease or diabetes, LDL cholesterol levels should be less than
3.0 mmol/L..
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Calculation |
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LDL
cholesterol is a calculated from other lipid parameters. It
should be remembered that the variability in measurement of
these individual parameters is compounded in the LDL
calculation and that small changes in LDL (<0.5 mmol/L) are
clinically insignificant.
LDL cannot be calculated when triglyceride levels are > 4.5
mmol/L
LDL
Cholesterol = Total Cholesterol - HDL Chol. - (Triglycerides /
2.19)
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Unit
Conversion |
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To convert from mmol/L to mg/dL
multiply by 38.7
To convert from mg/dL to mmol/L
multiply by 0.026
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