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HelpTest Code CHOL Cholesterol
Additional Codes
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Cerner |
NextGen |
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Cholesterol |
Cholesterol |
Methodology
Enzymatic, Colorimetric (reflectance spectrophotometry).
Patient Preparation
12 hour fasting: Tests Requiring Fasting and Fasting Instructions
Collection Instructions
Standard phlebotomy practices.
Specimen Requirements
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Container |
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Stability |
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Rejection Criteria |
Gross Hemolysis |
Result Reporting and Reference Values
Reported in mg/dL.
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Age |
Low |
High |
Critical Low |
Critical High |
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0-30d |
50 |
120 |
N/A |
N/A |
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30d-18Y |
125 |
199 |
N/A |
N/A |
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18 – 150Y |
90 |
199 |
N/A |
N/A |
NCEP guidelines for Cholesterol:
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Less than or equal to 199 mg/dL |
Desirable |
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200-239 mg/dL |
Borderline High |
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Greater than or equal to 240 mg/ dL |
High |
Reflex Testing
None
Limitations
- Ortho reports a bias with the following:
- Gentisic acid at 5.0 mg/dL a bias of -31
- N-acetylcystine at 10.0 mg/dL a bias of -26
- Ortho reports no significant effect with the following:
- Bilirubin up to 20 mg/dL
- Hemoglobin up to 1000 mg/dL
- lipemia up to 800 mg/dL
- The following interpretive data is available to the practitioner:
- Gentisic acid and N-acetylcysteine create negative bias of 11-13% at 230 mg/dl cholesterol
Useful For
Cholesterol is present in tissues and in serum and plasma either as cholesterol or as cholesterol esters bound to proteins. Cholesterol is an essential structural component of cell membranes and the outer layer of plasma lipoproteins and is the precursor of all steroid hormones, including sex and adrenal hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.
Cholesterol measurements are used to evaluate the risk of developing coronary artery occlusion, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular disease. Coronary atherosclerosis correlates with a high cholesterol level. Cholesterol concentrations are increased in primary hypercholesterolemia; secondary hyperlipoproteinemia, including nephrotic syndrome; primary biliary cirrhosis; hypothyroidism; and in some cases diabetes mellitus. Low cholesterol concentrations may be found in malnutrition, malabsorption, advanced malignancy, and hyperthyroidism. Serum cholesterol concentration depends on many factors, including age and gender.