Order a cholesterol test and measure your lipids

A lipid panel is a blood test for your blood lipids. This panel measures your HDL cholesterol, your LDL cholesterol and your triglycerides.

No single value is dangerous on its own. For non-fasting blood the Dutch NHG guideline uses 5.0 mmol/l as the cut-off for total cholesterol, so a reading of 4.4 sits below it while 5.4 and 6.2 fall in the band above it. That band runs to 8.0 mmol/l, so even 7.8 is below the point where a doctor would start considering an inherited lipid disorder.

There is no single normal LDL value, because what is desirable depends on your overall cardiovascular risk. As a general target the Dutch NVKC uses an LDL below 3.0 mmol/l and an HDL above 1.55 mmol/l. For non-fasting triglycerides the cut-off is 2.0 mmol/l.

No, fasting is not required. We grade your values against the NHG non-fasting cut-offs, so you can have your blood taken at any time of day. Fasting does give a slightly cleaner triglyceride reading, so it is a bonus if it happens to suit you.

No, this panel measures HDL, LDL and triglycerides. If you also want your total cholesterol, look at a broader cardiovascular panel.

This lipid panel focuses on HDL, LDL and triglycerides. The cardiovascular health test adds hs-CRP and homocysteine for a wider view.

The test costs €73,-, including the blood draw. You pay it yourself and no draw fee comes on top.

No. After you order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start the next business day. You receive a ZorgDomein email with a barcode, and you show it at the draw site. At a few draw sites you fix the time on your order page, or we do it.

No. What you request yourself falls outside the basic Dutch insurance. You pay yourself, and your deductible (eigen risico) is not touched.

Count on one business day, or a day more if you order after 17:00 or at the weekend. That is how long the referral email takes, and without a referral you are not drawn. Then you can simply walk in at some draw sites; at the rest you book an appointment. Every location states it.

Two things: the barcode from the ZorgDomein email and a valid ID. You show the barcode on your phone. If you have no BSN, the email has no barcode; print the referral form from the link then.

Take medication as usual unless your own doctor said otherwise. Some markers ask for no heavy training for 48 hours or no alcohol for 24 hours. The test and the instructions after your order tell you what applies to you.

You show your barcode and a valid ID, and the draw site takes blood. About a quarter of an hour in total.

Yes. Every result is assessed by a BIG-registered doctor, who explains your values in your account. Treatment you talk over with your GP.

At an independent, certified laboratory from the Caliberhealth network, spread across the Netherlands. That network also runs the draw sites; they are not owned by Caliberhealth. Reference values can differ a little per laboratory.

No. Your test does not pass your GP and does not go into your medical record. A healthcare provider gets your data only with your written consent, and it is never sold. Testing anonymously is not possible: a valid result needs your name, date of birth and a valid ID.