Test ID: CHOL
Cholesterol, Total, Serum
NY State Approved 
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Evaluation of cardiovascular risk
Special Instructions and Forms Describes specimen collection and preparation information, test algorithms, and other information pertinent to test. Also includes pertinent information and consent forms to be used when requesting a particular test
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Enzymatic Colorimetric
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Lipid Screen (Cholesterol, Trig, Chol HDL, Calculated LDL) ORDER 8053
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 90 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Cholesterol is a steroid with a secondary hydroxyl group in the C3 position. It is synthesized in many types of tissue, but particularly in the liver and intestinal wall. Approximately 75% of cholesterol is newly synthesized and 25%originates from dietary intake. Normally, the cholesterol in the plasma or serum is 60% to 80% esterified. Approximately 50% to 75% of the plasma cholesterol is transported by low density lipoproteins (LDL) and 15% to 40% by high density lipoproteins (HDL).
Serum cholesterol is elevated in the hereditary hyperlipoproteinemias and in various other metabolic diseases. Moderate-to-markedly elevated values are also seen in cholestatic liver disease. Hypercholesterolemia reflects an increase of lipoproteins of 1 or more specific classes (eg, beta-LDL, alpha-1 HDL, alpha-2 HDL, or LP-X). Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Low levels of cholesterol can be seen in disorders that include hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, and deficiencies of apolipoproteins.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set the following guidelines for lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein [HDL], and low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol) in adults ages 18 and up:
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Desirable: <200 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200-239 mg/dL
High: > or =240 mg/dL
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has set the following guidelines for lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL cholesterol) in children ages 2-17:
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
Desirable: <170 mg/dL
Borderline high: 170 -199 mg/dL
High: > or =200 mg/dL
Also see age and sex adjusted reference values in Total Cholesterol-Percentile Ranking in Lipids and Lipoproteins in Blood Plasma (Serum) in Special Instructions.
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has set the following guidelines for total cholesterol:
Desirable: <200 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200 mg/dL to 239 mg/dL
High: > or = 240 mg/dL
Values above the normal range indicate a need for quantitative analysis of the lipoprotein profile.
Values in hyperthyroidism usually are in the lower normal range; malabsorption values may be <100 mg/dL, while beta-lipoprotein or apolipoprotein B deficiency values usually are <80 mg/dL.
See Lipids and Lipoproteins in Blood Plasma (Serum) in Special Instructions.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Patients must be fasting for at least 12 to 14 hours if a lipid screen is ordered. If total cholesterol is the only lipid test ordered, fasting is not necessary.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1994
2. National Institute of Health (NIH) Publication. Second Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. 1993 September; 93:3096
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Cholesterol is measured by an automated enzymatic method. The reagents include cholesterol ester hydrolase, cholesterol oxidase, and a coupled colorimetric end-point chemistry system. The method is referenced to the Centers of Disease Control standardized method performed in the Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Laboratory. (Package insert: Bayer Cholesterol Reagent, Bayer Diagnostics Corporation, Tarrytown, NY; Package insert: Roche Cholesterol Reagent, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
82465
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| CHOL | Cholesterol, Total, S | 2093-3 |
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