Pathology results in My Health Record, explained
Cholesterol test (lipid profile) results explained
A lipid profile measures the different types of cholesterol in your blood, plus triglycerides. Your GP uses it, together with things like blood pressure, age, diabetes and smoking, to estimate your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Also printed as: Lipids, Fasting lipids, Random lipids, Cholesterol test.
What is on the report
Typical adult ranges. Each lab sets its own, so the range printed next to your result is the one that counts.
| Test | What it is | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | All the cholesterol in your blood, good and bad together. | under 5.2 mmol/L (desirable) |
| LDL cholesterol | The 'bad' cholesterol that can build up in artery walls. | under 2.6 mmol/L (desirable) |
| HDL cholesterol | The 'good' cholesterol that carries extra cholesterol back to the liver. | over 1.3 mmol/L (women) over 1 mmol/L (men) |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | All the 'bad' cholesterol together: total cholesterol minus HDL. | under 3.4 mmol/L (desirable) |
| Cholesterol/HDL ratio | Total cholesterol divided by HDL; lower is better. | under 5 ratio (desirable) |
| Triglycerides | The main type of fat carried in the blood. | under 1.7 mmol/L (fasting) |
Good to know in Australia
- Cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins are reported in mmol/L on Australian reports.
- Labs flag results above set levels so your GP knows to review your overall heart and blood vessel risk. A flag is a prompt for that review, not a diagnosis.
- Your GP may use the Australian cardiovascular disease risk calculator, which combines your lipids with your other risk factors.
- The test can be fasting or non-fasting (random). Your healthcare team will tell you which one you need.
- Cholesterol can vary by up to about 10 per cent from one month to the next, so tests repeated over time give a truer picture.
Call 000 in an emergency. For health advice at any hour, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). For questions about what your results mean for you, talk to your GP.
Keep your reports in one place
Take a photo or screenshot of your pathology report, or upload the PDF, and Vita explains each number in plain words, suggests what to ask your GP, and keeps it with your past results. Vita does not connect to My Health Record or any Australian health record system. Hospital connections work with US hospitals, not Australian ones.
Vita Health Coach on the App StoreAsk it in ChatGPT
Vita Health Coach also answers in ChatGPT. One tap opens ChatGPT with this question ready to send:
“What should I ask the doctor about my Lipid profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) result?”
Questions
What is non-HDL cholesterol?
It is your total cholesterol minus your HDL. It adds up all the types of cholesterol that can build up in artery walls.
Do I need to fast?
Not always. Non-fasting tests are accurate for many people. Fasting is still preferred in some cases, such as very high triglycerides, so follow what your healthcare team tells you.
My cholesterol is flagged. Will one test decide things?
Usually not. A raised result is normally checked with a second sample on another day, and your GP looks at your overall risk, not one number.
More for Australia
Sources
General information, not medical advice. VitaMedas is not connected with any government health service. Vita Health Coach explains; it never diagnoses. In an emergency, call 000. Read the medical disclaimer.