Cholesterol and lipid tests (blood test)

Cholesterol and lipid tests

Key facts A cholesterol (or lipid profile) blood test looks at the levels of cholesterol and other fats in your blood. You might need this test if your doctor wants to assess your risk of heart disease and stroke. You will usually need to fast for 8 to 12 hours before having this test. This means not eating any food and drinking only water. You should talk about the results of your lipid profile test with your doctor. What is a cholesterol and lipid blood test? Lipids and cholesterol are fat-like substances in your body. A cholesterol (or lipid profile) test looks