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Private Cholesterol & Lipid Blood Tests in the UK (2026): Cost, Providers and How to Read Your Results
Information, not medical advice
This guide explains what a cholesterol / lipid blood test measures and what UK providers charge. It does not assess your cardiovascular risk, recommend or change statin therapy, or diagnose familial hypercholesterolaemia. Any abnormal result — and any decision about cholesterol-lowering medication — should be discussed with your GP. Read our full medical disclaimer.
A lipid panel — also called a cholesterol blood test, full lipid profile, or "fasting lipids" — is one of the most-ordered blood tests in the UK, and it's the test most directly tied to a single number that genuinely matters for life expectancy: lifetime exposure to atherogenic cholesterol. The NHS uses cholesterol numbers (alongside age, sex, smoking, blood pressure and diabetes status) in the QRISK3 calculator that decides who gets offered a statin, and most UK cardiology guidance over the last decade has revolved around how aggressively to lower LDL-cholesterol in people with established risk.[1]
Privately, a basic lipid panel is one of the cheaper meaningful tests you can run: £35–£49 at most major UK providers, often free as part of a £85–£199 general health panel, and increasingly bundled with HbA1c, liver markers, and inflammation markers in "metabolic-health" panels. This guide explains what each marker actually measures, why "non-HDL cholesterol" and ApoB have quietly become more important than total cholesterol or LDL alone, what UK providers charge in 2026, and how to read your result against UK NICE targets rather than the older US thresholds you'll find on most search engines.
For the wider private-testing market and how this test sits within full panels, see our UK blood test provider comparison, UK blood test cost guide, or the live UK pricing index dataset.
Want the cardiovascular-risk picture beyond LDL? Our cardiovascular risk test UK buyer guide covers ApoB (the better-than-LDL particle count), Lp(a) (the genetic risk factor in 1 in 5 people that standard NHS cholesterol doesn’t measure), and hs-CRP. The private blood tests UK pillar covers broader market context.
The 90-second answer
If you only read one box
- What it measures: A standard UK lipid panel reports total cholesterol, HDL ("good"), LDL ("bad" — usually calculated, sometimes measured directly), non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and the total/HDL ratio. Advanced panels add ApoB and Lp(a).
- Typical UK private cost (verified 5 May 2026): Basic cholesterol panel £35–£49 (Medichecks Cholesterol £39 verified; MyHealthChecked Cholesterol Profile £45 verified); advanced panels with ApoB and Lp(a) £79–£149.
- UK NICE targets (general population, primary prevention): total cholesterol < 5.0 mmol/L, non-HDL cholesterol < 4.0 mmol/L, LDL < 3.0 mmol/L (lower for higher-risk groups; secondary-prevention targets are tighter again).[1]
- Who should test? NHS Health Checks invite everyone aged 40–74 in England every five years. Privately, testing earlier (from ~30) is reasonable if you have a family history of early heart disease, are on a high-saturated-fat diet, are insulin-resistant or pre-diabetic, are entering perimenopause/menopause (cholesterol routinely rises), or just want a baseline.
- Don't fast unless your panel says so. Modern guidance (UK and international) says non-fasting lipids are perfectly adequate for total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL and ApoB — only triglycerides and calculated LDL are meaningfully affected by recent meals.[2]
- One bad result isn't a diagnosis. Cholesterol varies week to week and rises with acute illness, recent steroid use, alcohol, and dehydration. NICE recommends repeating a single abnormal lipid result before making clinical decisions.
What a lipid panel actually measures
"Cholesterol" isn't one number — it's at least five, plus two more on advanced panels.
| Marker | What it tells you | UK target (primary prevention) |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol (TC) | The sum of all cholesterol in the blood — LDL, HDL, VLDL and IDL combined. A useful broad screen but a poor stand-alone risk indicator. | < 5.0 mmol/L |
| HDL cholesterol | "Good" cholesterol — particles that ferry cholesterol back to the liver. Higher is better, up to a point. | > 1.0 mmol/L (men), > 1.2 mmol/L (women) |
| LDL cholesterol | "Bad" cholesterol — directly atherogenic. Usually calculated using the Friedewald or Sampson equation; directly measured on advanced panels. | < 3.0 mmol/L (lower for higher-risk groups) |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | Total cholesterol minus HDL — captures all the atherogenic particles in one number. NICE has favoured this over LDL alone since the 2014/2023 lipid-modification updates. | < 4.0 mmol/L |
| Triglycerides | Circulating fats from recent meals plus liver-produced VLDL. Affected substantially by recent food and alcohol. | < 1.7 mmol/L (fasting) or < 2.0 mmol/L (non-fasting) |
| Total / HDL ratio | A composite risk indicator. < 4.0 is reasonable; < 3.5 is good. | < 4.0 |
| ApoB (advanced) | Apolipoprotein B — the protein that wraps around LDL, VLDL, IDL and Lp(a). One ApoB per atherogenic particle, so it counts particles directly. Better than LDL alone for risk in metabolic-syndrome and high-triglyceride patients. | < 1.0 g/L (general), < 0.8 g/L (high risk) |
| Lp(a) (advanced) | Lipoprotein(a) — a genetically determined LDL-like particle that adds independent CV risk. Test once in a lifetime; doesn't change much with diet/lifestyle. | < 75 nmol/L (or < 30 mg/dL) |
For most people on most days, a basic lipid panel (TC, HDL, LDL, non-HDL, triglycerides) is the right test. ApoB earns its keep if you have insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or persistently high triglycerides — situations where calculated LDL becomes unreliable. Lp(a) is worth running once, ideally in your 30s–40s, particularly if you have a family history of early heart disease.
UK NICE targets and what "high" actually means
The numbers below are NICE-aligned general-population targets for primary prevention (people without established cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease). If you're in a higher-risk group, or already have a QRISK3 score above 10%, your targets shift downward.[3]
| Marker | Optimal | Borderline | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | < 5.0 mmol/L | 5.0–6.4 mmol/L | ≥ 6.5 mmol/L (NICE recommends FH screening if ≥ 7.5 plus family history) |
| LDL cholesterol | < 3.0 mmol/L | 3.0–4.0 mmol/L | > 4.0 mmol/L (target < 1.8 if established CVD, < 1.4 if very high risk) |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | < 4.0 mmol/L | 4.0–4.9 mmol/L | ≥ 5.0 mmol/L |
| HDL cholesterol | > 1.2 mmol/L (women), > 1.0 (men) | 0.9–1.2 mmol/L | < 0.9 mmol/L (independent risk factor) |
| Triglycerides (fasting) | < 1.7 mmol/L | 1.7–2.3 mmol/L | > 2.3 mmol/L (very high > 5.0 — pancreatitis risk) |
| Total / HDL ratio | < 3.5 | 3.5–4.5 | > 4.5 |
| ApoB | < 0.9 g/L | 0.9–1.2 g/L | > 1.2 g/L |
| Lp(a) | < 75 nmol/L | 75–125 nmol/L | > 125 nmol/L (independent CV risk; consider tighter LDL target) |
Two notes the lab report won't always spell out:
- "Calculated LDL" becomes unreliable when triglycerides > 4.5 mmol/L. The Friedewald equation breaks down at high triglycerides, which is why some advanced panels use directly-measured LDL or default to non-HDL cholesterol in metabolic-syndrome patients.
- Total cholesterol ≥ 7.5 mmol/L with a family history of early heart disease is the NICE threshold for considering familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) screening. FH affects ~1 in 250 UK adults and most cases are undiagnosed. If your private test flags this pattern, your GP can refer for genetic testing — privately or via NHS lipid clinics.[4]
Who should test, and how often
The NHS offers free Health Checks (which include a lipid panel) for all 40–74 year olds in England every five years. Privately, the right testing cadence depends on what you're trying to learn.
- Family history of early heart disease (parent or sibling under 55 male / 65 female). Test from your 30s. If anything looks off, see a GP for FH workup. Lp(a) is particularly worth running in this group — it's largely genetic and won't change with lifestyle.
- Pre-diabetic, type 2 diabetic, or insulin-resistant. Annual lipid panel is sensible. Pair with HbA1c and ApoB if available — calculated LDL routinely under-estimates risk in this group.
- Recently entered perimenopause or menopause (women). Cholesterol — particularly LDL — rises through the menopausal transition by an average ~10–15%. A baseline before HRT decisions is useful.[5]
- Started or changed cholesterol-lowering medication. Repeat at 3 months to gauge response, then annually.
- Following an unusually high-saturated-fat or low-saturated-fat diet shift. Test before and 8–12 weeks after to see whether the shift moved your numbers meaningfully — individual responses to dietary fat vary substantially.
- Active in fitness / longevity / "metabolic health" tracking. Annual or bi-annual makes sense. ApoB is more useful than LDL for tracking changes in this group.
Basic vs advanced lipid panels: which do you actually need?
Most UK private providers sell a "basic cholesterol panel" (TC, HDL, LDL, non-HDL, triglycerides, ratios) and an "advanced lipids" or "cardiovascular" panel that adds ApoB and Lp(a) — sometimes with hsCRP, homocysteine, and fasting glucose / HbA1c thrown in. (For hsCRP specifically, see our hsCRP test guide.)
Stick with basic if: you're under 35, no family history of early heart disease, no metabolic concerns, and you just want a baseline.
Pay for advanced if: you're tracking cardiovascular risk seriously, you're in a metabolic-syndrome / pre-diabetic pattern (where calculated LDL under-counts your real atherogenic-particle burden), you have a strong family history of early heart disease, or this is your once-in-a-lifetime Lp(a) test. The marginal £30–£60 over a basic panel is genuinely good value if you're going to act on the result.
Consider a metabolic-health panel (lipids + HbA1c + insulin / HOMA-IR + liver markers, often £79–£149) if you're investigating insulin resistance or pre-diabetes alongside lipids. See our HbA1c test guide for the metabolic-side context.
UK private providers and prices in 2026
All major direct-to-consumer providers offer cholesterol panels. The structural differences are the markers included, sample method (finger-prick vs venous), and whether ApoB and Lp(a) are included or upsold.
| Provider | Basic lipid panel | Advanced (with ApoB / Lp(a)) | Sample / lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medichecks (verified) | Cholesterol £39 (verified) | Advanced cardiovascular ~£89–£139 (typical) | Finger-prick or venous · TDL (UKAS ISO 15189) |
| MyHealthChecked (verified) | Cholesterol Profile £45 (verified) | Not standalone — advanced markers via clinic referral | Finger-prick · Eurofins (UKAS) |
| Thriva | ~£35–£49 (in subscription tiers) | Higher subscription tier — ApoB and Lp(a) on premium | Finger-prick · County Pathology (UKAS) |
| Forth (Forth With Life) | ~£39–£59 (Heart Health panel) | ~£99–£149 (Heart Health Pro / Advanced) | Finger-prick or venous · TDL (UKAS) |
| Numan | Bundled in men's health panels | Bundled in advanced men's panels | Venous (in clinic) · partner UK lab |
| Randox Health | Bundled in clinic packages | Included in £150–£700 packages | Venous (in clinic) |
For the full price landscape across general health panels (where lipids are usually included), see our UK private blood test cost guide.
How to read your lipid panel
Results land in one of several broad patterns. This is a clinician-friendly framework — but it's a buyer's guide, not a diagnostic tool. Take any abnormal pattern to your GP; don't start or adjust statins on your own. Lipid targets are risk-based and not the same as the population reference range printed on your report — see why "in range" is not the same as "optimal" for the full picture.
Everything within target
Lower-risk pattern. Re-test in 3–5 years (or per NHS Health Check schedule) unless your risk profile changes. Lp(a) once in a lifetime if not done.
Total cholesterol > 5, LDL > 3, non-HDL > 4, normal triglycerides, normal HDL
Classical "high cholesterol" pattern, often diet- and genetics-driven. Repeat the test (single readings vary). If still elevated, your GP will calculate QRISK3 (10-year cardiovascular risk) using your numbers, age, sex, smoking, blood pressure and family history. NICE recommends considering a statin if QRISK3 ≥ 10%.
High triglycerides + low HDL ± high non-HDL
The metabolic-syndrome / insulin-resistance pattern. Often comes with raised HbA1c, raised liver enzymes (ALT, GGT), and central adiposity. Calculated LDL under-counts the actual atherogenic load — ApoB is much more useful here. The right work-up is broader than just lipids.
Total cholesterol ≥ 7.5 mmol/L, LDL ≥ 4.9 mmol/L, with family history
Possible familial hypercholesterolaemia. NICE pathway is GP referral for FH genetic screening (free on the NHS). Don't delay — FH carries a meaningfully higher lifetime CV risk than typical polygenic high cholesterol, and the treatment thresholds are tighter.
Low total cholesterol (< 3.5 mmol/L)
Usually nothing concerning if you're well, eat normally, and aren't on cholesterol-lowering medication. Persistently very low cholesterol with weight loss, fatigue or other symptoms can occasionally signal underlying disease (hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, malnutrition, end-stage liver disease) and warrants a GP review.
How to prepare for the test
- Fasting is mostly optional. Modern UK and international guidance accepts non-fasting lipids for total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL and ApoB. Triglycerides and calculated LDL are more accurate fasted, but the difference is rarely clinically decision-altering. If your provider's panel is bundled with HbA1c or fasting glucose, follow the panel's overall fasting instructions — usually 8–12 hours.[2]
- Don't test during or just after acute illness. Cholesterol drops 20–30% in the days–weeks after a viral or bacterial infection, surgery, or trauma — wait at least 2 weeks after symptoms resolve.
- Avoid alcohol for 24–48 hours before testing. Recent drinking inflates triglycerides and can transiently raise GGT and other liver markers if your panel includes them.
- Don't change your diet for the test. Test what your typical diet produces. Crash-dieting before a test gives a misleading result.
- Hydrate before finger-prick. Warm hands, plenty of water — a poor finger-prick sample is the most common reason for an inconclusive lipid result.
- List your medications honestly when prompted. Statins, fibrates, HRT, oral contraceptives, beta-blockers and corticosteroids can all influence lipids. The lab needs to know to interpret correctly.
When private testing isn't worth it
Three scenarios where you should see your GP first, not order a private test:
- You're 40–74 in England and haven't had your free NHS Health Check. The Health Check includes a full lipid panel free, and the appointment also covers blood pressure, BMI, and CV-risk calculation. Don't pay privately for what the NHS gives you free every 5 years.
- You have new chest pain, breathlessness on exertion, or unexplained leg pain. Those are GP-or-A&E symptoms, not test-from-home symptoms. Cholesterol numbers won't help acute decision-making.
- You're already on a statin and your last NHS lipid panel was < 12 months ago. Repeating privately at higher cadence rarely changes management. Discuss frequency with your GP.
Our pick for cholesterol testing in 2026
Best basic cholesterol test (most people)
Medichecks Cholesterol Blood Test — £39 (verified 5 May 2026), finger-prick or venous, processed at TDL (UKAS-accredited), results in 2–5 working days, doctor-commented report including total/HDL ratio and non-HDL. Visit Medichecks →
Best advanced cardiovascular panel (with ApoB / Lp(a))
Forth Heart Health Pro or Medichecks Advanced Cardiovascular — typically £99–£139, includes ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP, sometimes homocysteine. The right starting point if you have a family history of early heart disease, or want a once-in-a-lifetime Lp(a) baseline. Visit Medichecks → · Visit Forth →
Best metabolic-health bundle
MyHealthChecked Cholesterol Profile — £45 (verified 5 May 2026), finger-prick at home, Eurofins (UKAS) lab. The straightforward "give me my numbers" option at a UKAS lab. Visit MyHealthChecked →
FAQs
Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Mostly no. Modern UK and international guidance treats non-fasting lipids as adequate for total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL and ApoB. Triglycerides and calculated LDL are more accurate fasted (8–12 hours) but the difference is rarely decision-altering. Follow your panel's overall instructions — if it includes HbA1c or fasting glucose, fasting is required.
Is finger-prick reliable for cholesterol?
Yes — finger-prick capillary samples for the standard lipid panel are well-validated and correlate well with venous samples at UKAS-accredited labs. The bigger source of error is sample handling: hydrate, warm your hands, and post the sample on the same day.
My result is high — should I start a statin?
Not on the basis of a private test alone. Statin decisions are based on your full cardiovascular risk (QRISK3 score), not just cholesterol. NICE recommends statin offer when QRISK3 ≥ 10% (primary prevention) or when you have established CVD/diabetes/CKD (secondary prevention). This is a GP conversation. A high private result is a reason to book that appointment, not to self-prescribe.
Is ApoB worth paying extra for?
For most people with a typical lipid pattern, no — calculated LDL and non-HDL cholesterol cover it. ApoB earns its keep in three situations: high triglycerides (where calculated LDL becomes unreliable), insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome (atherogenic-particle count uncoupled from cholesterol concentration), and serious cardiovascular-risk tracking where you want the most precise number.
Should I test Lp(a)?
Once in a lifetime, ideally in your 30s–40s, especially if you have a family history of early heart disease. Lp(a) is largely genetically determined and doesn't change much with diet, exercise, or statins, so there's no point repeat-testing. If it's elevated, the implication is stricter LDL targets and stricter cardiovascular risk-factor management — not a separate Lp(a)-lowering treatment (those are still emerging).
I'm starting / changing HRT. Should I test?
A baseline before starting is sensible — oestrogen-containing HRT typically raises HDL and can raise triglycerides. Re-test 3–6 months after starting if you have any cardiovascular risk factors. Discuss results with the prescriber, not in isolation.
My total cholesterol is 3.4 — is that too low?
Usually no, particularly if you're well, eating normally and not on cholesterol-lowering medication. Persistently very low cholesterol (< 3.5) with weight loss, fatigue or other systemic symptoms can occasionally point to underlying disease (hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, malnutrition, end-stage liver disease) and warrants a GP review.
Should I test my children's cholesterol?
Not routinely. NICE recommends FH cascade screening from age 10 only when a family member has genetically confirmed FH. Otherwise, children's lipids aren't a useful screen.
Reader questions
Three real long-tail questions readers ask before buying this test — the kind of lived-experience scenarios the standard FAQ doesn’t cover. Personas are illustrative; the answers are editorial.
-
Helen, 48, Norwich asks:
My total cholesterol came back at 6.8 and my GP wants to discuss statins. I want to try diet and exercise first. What private follow-up tests actually help that decision?
Three add-ons that genuinely change the action, in order of priority:
1. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) — this is the single most predictive number for cardiovascular risk that your NHS lipid panel almost certainly doesn’t include. Total cholesterol can be misleading when HDL is high; apoB counts the actual atherogenic particles. A standalone apoB test runs £25–£39 at Medichecks or Thriva. If your apoB is below ~80 mg/dL, your 6.8 total is much less worrying than the number suggests. If apoB is >100 mg/dL, the statin conversation is harder to defer.
2. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] — a one-off test for life, around £55. Lp(a) is genetic and not modifiable by diet. If yours is >100 nmol/L (or >50 mg/dL on mass units), your residual risk after diet is significantly elevated and you should know that before you commit to a 6-month diet-only experiment. NHS does not routinely test it.
3. HbA1c if you don’t have it recent — insulin resistance amplifies dyslipidaemia and the diet that fixes one often fixes the other. Standard CV-risk workup includes it; if your GP didn’t order one, see our HbA1c page.
What I would do in your position: order apoB + Lp(a) + HbA1c as a single private panel (Medichecks Lipid+ or similar, around £79–£99). Give yourself a structured 3-month diet+exercise window. Retest total cholesterol and apoB in 12 weeks. If apoB has come down materially and Lp(a) is normal, the diet-first approach is well-supported. If apoB is unchanged or Lp(a) is high, your prior-probability for benefiting from a statin is much stronger and that’s the conversation to have with your GP.
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Tariq, 39, Leicester asks:
I'm South Asian with a strong family history of heart disease. My total cholesterol is 5.2 "in range" but I'm worried. Is that low enough?
South Asian heritage genuinely is independent cardiovascular risk — even after adjusting for BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure, UK South Asian populations have meaningfully elevated rates of premature ischaemic heart disease. UK NICE acknowledges this with the QRISK3 ethnicity adjustment, and the threshold for primary prevention conversations is lower for South Asian men.
The number you really want to know is not total cholesterol — it is apoB and the ratio of apoB to HDL. Total 5.2 with HDL of 1.8 and apoB of 75 mg/dL is reassuring; total 5.2 with HDL of 0.9 and apoB of 105 mg/dL is the same total but a dramatically different risk profile. Add Lp(a) once, which is independently elevated in some South Asian families.
What to do now: (1) Ask your GP to run a QRISK3 (free, computes your 10-year CV risk including the South Asian adjustment). If >10%, NICE supports a primary-prevention statin conversation. (2) Order a one-off private apoB + Lp(a) + standard lipids, around £70–£90. (3) If apoB is >90 mg/dL or Lp(a) is >100 nmol/L, the case for an earlier statin is much stronger than your total cholesterol alone suggests. (4) Don’t over-rotate on a single measurement — CV risk is a 5–10 year question, and the decision should rest on a stable picture, not one-off variability.
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Mark, 44, Sheffield asks:
I've been on a high-fat low-carb diet for 6 months. My total cholesterol jumped from 4.8 to 7.2. My LDL is now 5.0. Should I be worried?
This is the most common scenario in 2026 private blood testing, and the honest answer is: maybe, maybe not, and the data needed to know is more than total cholesterol.
Two patterns can produce a total cholesterol of 7.2 on a ketogenic / very-low-carb diet:
Pattern 1 — large-buoyant LDL with high HDL. Typical of lean, metabolically-healthy people on LC/keto. HDL often climbs to 1.8–2.5, triglycerides drop below 1.0, and the LDL number rises but the LDL particles are large, buoyant, less atherogenic. This pattern is poorly characterised by the standard NHS lipid panel.
Pattern 2 — classic atherogenic dyslipidaemia, just on a different macro mix. Total up, LDL up, but HDL also low / unchanged and triglycerides also up. This is genuinely concerning regardless of diet.
How to tell which you have: order an apoB test. If apoB <80 mg/dL with TG <1.0 and HDL >1.5, you are likely in Pattern 1 and the literature is genuinely mixed on long-term risk. If apoB >100 mg/dL, you are in Pattern 2 regardless of how you got there, and the diet is moving you in the wrong direction.
Useful additional tests (one-off): Lp(a), hsCRP (inflammation), HbA1c. Insurance against missing a problem behind a flattering ratio.
Related buyer's guides
- Best blood test for weight loss & metabolic health UK — our umbrella guide for HbA1c / pre-diabetes / pre-GLP-1 baseline / stalled-despite-effort cohorts. Lipids + ApoB + TG:HDL ratio sit in every cohort's marker set.
- Best men's health blood test UK — our umbrella guide: which panel actually fits a UK man at 30, 40 or 50+. Lipids + apoB sit at the heart of the 40s and 50+ panels.
- Private HbA1c (diabetes) blood test UK — paired with lipids in any metabolic-health work-up. Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and dyslipidaemia tend to travel together.
- Private vitamin D blood tests UK — vitamin D status and metabolic health are loosely linked; both often included in general health panels.
- Private ferritin & iron blood tests UK — relevant in the same general-health-panel context.
- Private thyroid blood tests UK — hypothyroidism can cause secondary high cholesterol; worth checking if cholesterol is unexpectedly high without other risk factors.
- Private vitamin B12 & folate blood test UK — completes the general-panel picture.
- Private PSA (prostate) blood test UK — standard add-on to lipids in any men's-health panel from age 50.
- Private liver function (LFT) blood test UK — lipids and LFTs together are the headline metabolic-syndrome / fatty-liver (MASLD) signature; included in every major UK general health panel.
- How to read your private blood test results — reference vs optimal range, when in-range is still a problem, when to take your PDF to a GP.
- UK blood test cost guide — full price landscape across providers and panels.
- Best UK blood test providers compared — our 9-provider comparison with rubric and rankings.
- Medichecks vs MyHealthChecked — head-to-head with verified prices, including cholesterol panels at both providers.
How we wrote this guide
This article was researched and drafted by Aether (an AI agent) and reviewed by a human editor under human editorial oversight before publication. We cite primary UK and international sources — NICE Clinical Guidelines (NG181 lipid modification, CG71 familial hypercholesterolaemia), QRISK3 documentation, Nordic Lipidology Society non-fasting lipid consensus, and peer-reviewed menopause-lipid literature. Provider prices reflect each provider's UK product pages on 5 May 2026, not sponsorship. Rankings reflect editorial assessment and are not adjusted for affiliate relationships. Read our editorial process · affiliate disclosure.
Changelog
- 5 May 2026 — Draft v1 published; Medichecks & MyHealthChecked prices verified same day. Initial publication.
References
- NICE NG181 — Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification. 2023 update. UK first-line guidance on QRISK3, statin thresholds, lipid targets. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng181
- Nordestgaard BG, Langsted A, Mora S et al. — Fasting is not routinely required for determination of a lipid profile: clinical and laboratory implications including flagging at desirable concentration cut-points. European Heart Journal / EAS / EFLM consensus, 2016. The basis for current UK and international non-fasting-lipid practice. academic.oup.com
- NICE — Cardiovascular disease prevention: lipid modification (Quality Standards). UK targets for non-HDL, LDL, total cholesterol. nice.org.uk/guidance/qs100
- NICE CG71 — Familial hypercholesterolaemia: identification and management. The 7.5 mmol/L threshold, cascade screening, treatment targets. nice.org.uk/guidance/cg71
- Matthews KA, Crawford SL, Chae CU et al. — Are changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors in midlife women due to chronological aging or to the menopausal transition? Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2009. Evidence basis for menopause-related LDL rise. jacc.org
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not medical advice. We are not medical professionals. Cholesterol numbers are interpreted in the context of your full cardiovascular risk (QRISK3), not in isolation. A single abnormal result should be repeated before clinical decisions. Persistently raised cholesterol with a family history of early heart disease can indicate familial hypercholesterolaemia and warrants GP referral. Do not start, stop or change any cholesterol-lowering medication based on a private test result alone.