Lp(a) blood test
Lipoprotein(a)
In short
A typical adult Lp(a) result is under 30 mg/dL (desirable). A high Lp(a) adds to heart and stroke risk, even when other cholesterol results look fine. Because it is mostly inherited, doctors often focus on your other heart risks. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
A cholesterol particle whose level is set mainly by your genes.
Lp(a) is an LDL-like particle with an extra protein attached, and it adds to heart risk. Your level is mostly inherited and changes little over life, so it is often tested just once. Labs report it in mg/dL or nmol/L, and the two cannot be converted exactly.
Is my Lp(a) high or low?
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Typical range
| For | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Adults · desirable | under 30 | mg/dL |
| Adults · desirable | under 75 | nmol/L |
Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
If your Lp(a) is high
A high Lp(a) adds to heart and stroke risk, even when other cholesterol results look fine. Because it is mostly inherited, doctors often focus on your other heart risks.
Common reasons
- Genes: Lp(a) is mostly inherited from your parents
- Pregnancy or menopause, which can raise it a little
- Kidney disease
- An underactive thyroid
What can throw it off
Different test methods give different numbers, so compare results in the same unit from the same lab.
Questions to take to your appointment
- 1Should my close relatives be tested too?
- 2Will I need this test again in future?
- 3How does this change my overall heart risk?
Read together with
Doctors rarely read Lp(a) alone. These usually sit next to it.
Quick answers
What is the Lp(a) blood test?
Lp(a) (Lipoprotein(a)): A cholesterol particle whose level is set mainly by your genes. Lp(a) is an LDL-like particle with an extra protein attached, and it adds to heart risk. Your level is mostly inherited and changes little over life, so it is often tested just once. Labs report it in mg/dL or nmol/L, and the two cannot be converted exactly.
What is a normal Lp(a) level?
For most adults, Lp(a) is typically under 30 mg/dL (desirable). Some countries print it in nmol/L, so check the unit first. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
What does a high Lp(a) mean?
A high Lp(a) adds to heart and stroke risk, even when other cholesterol results look fine. Because it is mostly inherited, doctors often focus on your other heart risks. Common reasons include genes: Lp(a) is mostly inherited from your parents; pregnancy or menopause, which can raise it a little; kidney disease; and an underactive thyroid. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.
What can affect my Lp(a) result?
Different test methods give different numbers, so compare results in the same unit from the same lab.
What should I ask my doctor about my Lp(a)?
Questions worth taking to the appointment: Should my close relatives be tested too? Will I need this test again in future? How does this change my overall heart risk?
What this page can’t do
It reads each number on its own.
Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.
It doesn't know you.
Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.
It doesn't remember.
Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.
We also make Vita: Health Coach, an app for those parts. It reads your whole report with your medicines and history in mind, answers follow-up questions in plain words, and keeps your reports in one place — for you and for the people you look after.
Vita: Health Coach on the App StoreSources
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — Lipoprotein(a), Serum
- ABIM — Laboratory Test Reference Ranges (January 2026)
Stuck on a word? See the medical words. How we choose our sources. More about Vita Health Coach.