Cholesterol Panel (Lipid Profile):

• Who should get this test: Patients with risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, a family history of heart disease, or those with unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking or poor diet.

• What's included in the test:

• • Total cholesterol: Measures the total amount of cholesterol in your blood.

  • LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein): Often called "bad" cholesterol, it can build up in the walls of arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.

  • HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein): Known as "good" cholesterol, it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.

  • Triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood that can also increase the risk of heart disease if levels are too high.

• Why someone would check this test: To assess the risk of heart disease or stroke, monitor cholesterol levels in those with known heart disease or risk factors, guide lifestyle and dietary interventions, or evaluate the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering medications.

ApoB Test (Apolipoprotein B):

• Who should get this test: Patients at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as those with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or family history of CVD, individuals with known cardiovascular risk factors, or those undergoing lipid profile assessment.

• What's included in the test: The ApoB test measures levels of apolipoprotein B, a protein associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, in the blood. It involves collecting blood samples and quantifying the amount of ApoB present.

• Why someone would check this test: To assess cardiovascular risk beyond traditional lipid measures such as LDL cholesterol, identify individuals at higher risk of CVD or atherosclerosis, guide treatment decisions for lipid-lowering therapies, monitor response to treatment, or evaluate residual risk in individuals with well-controlled LDL cholesterol levels but persistently high ApoB levels.