We stand behind our service
Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
We stand behind our service
Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
This test is ideal if you're concerned about heart disease, have a family history of cardiovascular problems, or want to go beyond a basic cholesterol check. It reveals hidden risks that standard cholesterol tests miss, like particle sizes and patterns that affect how likely cholesterol is to clog your arteries. Many people use this test when they have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or when their doctor wants a more detailed picture of their heart health.
Fasting is not required before this test, making it convenient to schedule anytime. However, if you're taking N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) for acetaminophen overdose treatment, it can interfere with cholesterol measurements and cause falsely low results. This interference should resolve within 12 hours after completing the initial loading dose of IV NAC treatment.
This comprehensive panel goes far beyond basic cholesterol by measuring particle sizes and numbers that determine your true cardiovascular risk. It evaluates your LDL particle number and pattern, which shows whether you have the dangerous small, dense particles that easily penetrate artery walls, and measures apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) which are strong predictors of heart disease. Together with HDL subfractions and standard lipid measurements, these advanced markers provide a complete picture of your heart disease risk that standard cholesterol tests simply cannot reveal.
What this means
Your LDL particle number is elevated, which means you have more cholesterol-carrying particles in your bloodstream than ideal. This increases your risk of heart disease because more particles mean a greater chance of cholesterol building up in your artery walls, even if your standard LDL cholesterol looks acceptable.
Recommended actions
Reduce refined carbohydrates and sugar to lower small LDL particles
Increase omega-3 intake through fatty fish like salmon or quality fish oil supplements
Add regular aerobic exercise like brisk walking or cycling for 30+ minutes daily
Retest in 3-6 months after implementing lifestyle changes