Cholesterol Test

Why take the Cholesterol Test?

Bad cholesterol levels are a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. If there is too much ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in your blood, it contributes to the fact that the blood vessels become calcified. This in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

The World Health Organization estimates that every second person in high-income countries has high cholesterol levels. Many of those affected are not aware of this; high cholesterol does not usually present with noticeable symptoms.

However, you can influence your cholesterol: lifestyle and, above all, diet affect your cholesterol composition. It is recommended to check your cholesterol levels regularly.

Who should take the home cholesterol test?

Since the symptoms of high cholesterol are not often clearly visible, almost everyone can benefit from knowing their cholesterol evels.

Our Cholesterol Test is particularly useful for people who are at an increased risk of developing high LDL cholesterol. The at-risk groups include:

• The elderly and men
• Smokers
• People with high blood pressure
• People with type 2 diabetes
• People with a family history of heart attack and stroke

How does the Cholesterol Test work?

To do the Cholesterol Test, use a lancet to take a small sample of blood from your fingertip. Then send your sample to our CLIA-certified partner lab using the return envelope. The lab will test the concentration of various blood lipids (LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) in your capillary blood.

The test needs to be carried out on an empty stomach, so please don’t eat anything in the 12 hours prior to the test.

How long does the analysis take in the laboratory?

Once your sample has arrived at the laboratory, it will be analyzed there by specialists. How long the analysis takes depends on the exact measuring method and the processes in the laboratory.

If the sample is sent on the correct days (Sunday to Tuesday), this makes it easier for the laboratory to adhere to the times.

For the Cholesterol Test, the laboratory analysis is usually completed within 5 working days after the sample is received in the laboratory.  

What does the results report tell me?

The Cholesterol Test will help you assess your risk of arteriosclerosis, along with other risk factors.

To do this the following values will be measured and presented in the results report:

• Total cholesterol in micromoles per litre of blood (mmol/l)
• HDL cholesterol in mmol/l
• LDL cholesterol in mmol/l
• LDL–HDL quotient – that is, the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides in mmol/l

If your level of LDL cholesterol is elevated (therefore increasing the LDL– HDL ratio), this means you have an increased risk of calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis). This calcification in turn increases your risk for cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Elevated triglyceride levels can also damage the heart and blood vessels, but can be reduced with a balanced diet.

What recommendations will I receive?

You might need to take action if your LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, is above normal.

You will be given recommendations to help you lower your LDL cholesterol levels. Most of all, this is advice on diet and exercise.

If your test result indicates an increased risk of arteriosclerosis, please consult a doctor. They can help you assess your other risk factors and decide if treatment is necessary.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is packed into certain proteins in the body, either the HDL or the LDL protein. HDL cholesterol is considered the good cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol is considered the bad cholesterol.

Cholesterol is made in the liver, and your body uses it to make hormones such as vitamin D, cortisol and oestrogen, among other things. We can also get cholesterol through food. It is mainly found in animal fats such as butter, eggs, milk, cheese and meat. The more cholesterol we take in through food, the less the liver produces – that is why your cholesterol intake is not the only factor influencing your cholesterol levels.

What are the symptoms of high levels of bad cholesterol?

High LDL cholesterol levels is not noticeable with symptoms – this makes them difficult to detect without a test.

The bad cholesterol can, however, over time result in fatty buildup being deposited in the blood vessels. This calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

What causes high levels of bad cholesterol?

Foods that are high in cholesterol are not the only contributor to bad cholesterol levels.

Instead, typically a combination of various lifestyle factors is to blame. Obesity, lack of exercise, diabetes, alcohol and cigarettes all play a role. Some people are also genetically predisposed to have high cholesterol levels.

How do I improve my cholesterol levels?

It’s not just foods that are high in cholesterol that lead to bad cholesterol levels. Your weight and exercise have the greatest influence. Weight loss, regular exercise and a balanced diet are the most important steps you can take to improve your cholesterol levels.

In addition, you can eat fewer foods that increase LDL cholesterol. These include crisps and sweets, highly processed meat, soy and sunflower oil and alcohol.

Who should NOT take the Cholesterol Test?

The test is not or only partially suitable for certain groups of people:

People with infectious diseases, like hepatitis and HIV, may not use the Cholesterol Test.

People with haemophilia should not take the test.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take the Cholesterol Test under medical supervision. The given reference ranges and recommendations do not apply to people in this group; consult your medical professional for advice concerning your test results.

The Cholesterol Test is not intended for children under 18 years of age.

The test is not intended for diagnosing illnesses or disease. For example, if you suffer from depression or are in physical pain, consult a doctor.

Why are children under 18 not allowed to take the test?

Our tests are not suitable for underage children and adolescents under the age of 18. Under 18s cannot activate the tests online and therefore cannot receive a test result. We ask that you do not administer the tests to your children either.

Children and adolescents need much closer supervision and counselling regarding medical tests and their interpretation. Testing with lancets and chemicals is not without risk and would need to be closely supervised by guardians. In addition, the reference values we give are always based on adult data. In the case of children, the risk of misinterpreting the results would be very high.

We want to fulfil our responsibility as a provider of medical products and ensure that children and adolescents are not unsettled by measurement results that are difficult for them to interpret. Since we cannot control whether the minors' legal guardians actually consent to the test being carried out and supervise them, we exclude tests for under 18s altogether.

If you are under 18 and have purchased a test, please contact our customer support.

Why does it take up to a week for the sample to reach the lab?

Please bear in mind that your results will not be analyzed in the UK but in Germany. For that reason, it can take up to a week for the sample to arrive at the lab. This does not affect the stability of the samples, as the method we are using is optimized for long transports.

Initially, your sample is sent to our collection center in the UK. From there, it is shipped to our central sample sorting facility in Germany, which then distributes samples to our partner laboratories. Once your sample is analyzed there, you will receive a notification and can access your result online.

Please check your mailbox regularly. We will notify you as soon as your sample is sent, arrives, or is analyzed.