The bands on this page
| Result | What it is called here |
|---|---|
| under 100 | Optimal |
| 100 to 130 | Good |
| 130 to 160 | Above optimal |
| over 160 | High |
What goes in, and where each number comes from
Every input is a real test. Follow one to see its normal range, its optimal range and what moves it — the calculation is only as good as the numbers you feed it.
What it costs to actually get these numbers
| The 1 test on their own | $8.10 |
| The cheapest panel that covers them — The Basics — Start Here (4 markers) | $32.40 |
Prices are Marek Diagnostics with the 10% code already applied, and they are what was filed when this page was built — check the cart. Ordering through these links pays a commission at no cost to you.
What could have moved the measurement, not the marker
A wrong number and a real change look identical on a report. These are the reasons a result here can be an artifact of how the blood was drawn or run, and they are worth ruling out before anything else.
Triglycerides rise substantially after eating; total and HDL cholesterol barely move. Because LDL is usually calculated from triglycerides, a non-fasted draw distorts the LDL too — and the error is worst in exactly the people with high triglycerides.
What to do: Fast 10–12 hours if LDL matters. Guidelines increasingly accept non-fasting lipids, but be consistent between tests.
Lower HDL substantially, and oral 17-alpha-alkylated compounds do so dramatically.
What to do: Expect it on TRT; note it rather than being alarmed by it in isolation.
Cholesterol falls during acute illness and can stay low for weeks — a lipid panel after a hospital admission understates your true level.
What to do: Wait six weeks after any significant illness or surgery.
Active fat loss mobilizes lipids and can transiently raise LDL. Some people show a striking LDL rise on ketogenic diets.
What to do: Measure at weight stability, not mid-cut.