Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests

HDL Cholesterol Test, LDL Cholesterol Test, Lipid Profile, Lipoprotein Analysis, Total Cholesterol Test, Triglycerides and Cholesterol Tests

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Medicines, such as diuretics, corticosteroids, male sex hormones (androgens), tranquilizers, estrogen, birth control pills, antibiotics, and niacin (vitamin B3).
• Physical stress, such as infection, heart attack, surgery.
• Eating 9 to 12 hours before the test.
• Other conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or kidney or liver disease.
• Alcohol or drug abuse or withdrawal.
• Liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis), malnutrition, or hyperthyroidism.
• Pregnancy. Values are the highest during the third trimester and usually return to the prepregnancy levels after delivery of the baby.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: September 13, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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