High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol Test - Healthline

Có thể bạn quan tâm

HealthlineSubscribe

Sexual Health

Explore more in Cholesterol

Related Hubs

Heart Health

Your hub for heart health management, insights, and solutions

High Cholesterol

Help with mastering all the basics of high cholesterol

Related Topics

Symptoms
Symptoms
Related Articles
- Symptoms
- Mixed Hyperlipidemia
- Skin-Related Symptoms
- Hyperlipidemia Without Symptoms
- Hyperlipidemia Symptoms
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Related Articles
- Diagnosis
- Pre-Test Fasting
- Particle Size
- High Test Results
- Serum Cholesterol
- Normal Results
- Triglyceride Levels
- LDL Calculation
- HDL Test
- Borderline Results
- HLD Diagnosis
- Advanced Cholesterol Test
- Home Tests
Treatment
Treatment
Related Articles
- Treatment
- Rosuvastatin
- Ezetimibe
- Fenofibrate
- Simvastatin
- Cholestyramine Powder
- Vascepa
- Statin Alternatives
- Atorvastatin
- Lipitor
- Simvastatin vs Atorvastatin
- Pravastatin
- Repatha
- Zetia
- Locastatin
- Pitavastatin
- Leqvio
- Praluent
- Lipitor vs Crestor
- Over-the-Counter Options
- Simvastatin vs Crestor
- Gemfibrozil
- Nexletol
- Nexlizet
- Statins
Statins
Statins
Related Articles
- Safest Options
- Stopping Statins
- Taking at Night
- Statins and Alcohol
- Fatigue
- vs. Plant Sterols
- vs. Fish Oil
- Memory Loss
- Benefits
- How they work
- Pros and Cons
- Joint Pain
- vs. PCSK9-Inhibitors
- Intolerance
- Side Effects
- vs Niacin
- Guidelines
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk Factors
Related Articles
- Familial Hyperlipidemia
- Is It Hereditary?
- High Triglycerides
- Sudden Increase in Cholesterol
- Heart Disease
- Hyperlipidemia vs. Hypercholesterolemia
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Testosterone
- Mixed Hyperlipidemia
- Cholesterol Sources
- Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Related Conditions
Related Conditions
Related Articles
- Hyperlipidemia
- Stress
- Thyroid Issues
- Eye Deposits
- Erectily Dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Lupus
- Familial Hypertriglyceridemia
Prevention
Prevention
Related Hub
Prevention and Lifestyle
Tips for a heart-healthy lifestyle
Related Articles
- Good vs. Bad Fats
- Sleep
- Guide to Healthy Fats
Diet
Diet
Related Hub
What to Eat
Heart friendly nutrition tips and tools
Related Articles
- Diet
- High-Cholesterol Foods
- Foods to Increase HDL
- Recommended Amounts
- Snacks
- Dietary tips
- Eggs
- Peanut Butter
- Coffee
- Shrimp
- Butter
- Beer
- Fish
- Chicken vs. Beef
- Portfolio Diet
- Fat Myths
- Herbal Teas
- Salmon
- Coconut Oil
- Lamb
- Chicken
- Avocado
- Pizza
- Fiber
- Sugar
- Squid
- Turkey
- Low-Carb Diet
- Egg Whites
- Ice Cream
- Low-Fat Diet
- Krill Oil
Management
Management
Related Hub
Heart Health 101
Learn the basics to keeping your heart healthy
Related Articles
- Management
- Lowering Cholesterol
- Natural Cholesterol Reducers
- Natural Remedies
- Timeline
- Natural Statins
- Without Medication
- Target Levels
- Yoga
Complications
Complications
Related Articles
- Lipid Disorder
- Heart Disease
- Effects on Body
- Cholesterol Granuloma
- Artery Plaque Buildup
- COVID-19
- Cholesterol Embolism
Types
Types
Related Articles
- Types
- High HDL
- LDL
- Non-HDL
- VLDL vs. LDL
- Hypocholesterolemia
- HDL

What Is a High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol Test?

Medically reviewed by Kristin Shaffer, PA-C — Written by Brian Krans and The Healthline Editorial Team — Updated on June 17, 2024

Frequency
Preparation
Procedure
Results
Risks
Benefits

Key takeaways

An HDL test, often part of a complete cholesterol screening, measures the level of “good” cholesterol in your blood, with regular checks recommended every 4 to 6 years for adults at low risk of heart disease.
Preparing for an HDL test may involve fasting or avoiding certain medications, and results can be affected by acute illness, a recent heart attack, or pregnancy. Therefore, it’s essential to discuss your health history with your doctor.
HDL levels are categorized as low (less than 40 mg/dL for males, less than 50 mg/dL for females), good (40-60 mg/dL), or ideal (60 mg/dL or higher), and improving these levels can be achieved through diet, lifestyle changes, or medication.

A high-density lipoprotein (HDL) test, also called an HDL-C test, measures the level of good cholesterol in your blood.

There are two large categories of cholesterol in your body:

HDL: HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol because it carries harmful fats like LDL and returns them to your liver for processing. When HDL reaches your liver, the liver breaks down the LDL, turns it into bile, and removes it from your body.
LDL: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as “bad” cholesterol because high levels in your body can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. This can increase your risk of heart disease or stroke.

This article takes a closer look at the HDL test, who needs it, how often you should have it done, and how to interpret your test results.

How often should you have your cholesterol levels checked?

The HDL test is just one of several tests doctors use to check cholesterol levels. It specifically looks at the level of HDL in your blood.

Your doctor can also order a complete cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel, which measures your:

total cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
triglycerides
very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)

The American Heart Association recommends adults 20 years and older get their cholesterol levels checked every 4 to 6 years.

Your doctor may order an HDL test as part of a regular checkup or as a follow-up test if you have high results on your cholesterol screening test.

Doctors may perform an HDL test more regularly for people who are at risk of heart disease, including those who:

have diabetes
have a family history of heart disease
have high blood pressure
are males over 45 years
are females over 55 years
smoke
use tobacco
have heart disease or have had a heart attack

Your doctor may also order the test to monitor the effectiveness of treatments or to see whether lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, or smoking cessation, are successful at lowering your cholesterol levels.

Home tests to check cholesterol are available, including HDL-specific tests.

How should you prepare for an HDL test?

Your doctor will give you complete instructions on how to prepare for the test. These may include not taking certain medications for a short period or not eating or drinking anything for up to 12 hours before the test.

You should also know that having an HDL test when you’re sick may alter results. Cholesterol levels are temporarily lower during acute illness, immediately following a heart attack, or during periods of physical or psychological stress.

HDL cholesterol levels can also change during pregnancy.

Talk with your doctor about when to have your cholesterol levels checked if you’ve had a serious health event such as a heart attack, acute illness, or have recently given birth.

What’s the procedure like?

The HDL test is quick and relatively painless.

A healthcare professional draws a blood sample using a needle. You may feel the sting of the needle where the blood sample is taken.

Some tests, such as home tests, only need a drop of blood taken using a small needle called a lancet. When the healthcare professional draws enough blood into the airtight bottle attached to the needle, they package the sample and send it to a laboratory for testing.

If you feel woozy or lightheaded after the blood draw, you may need to rest and possibly have water and a snack to help you feel better.

What can I learn from the HDL test results?

Cholesterol is typically measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.

According to 2018 guidelines published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), HDL cholesterol levels are categorized as follows:

HDL cholesterol levels in mg/dL	Category
• less than 40 for males• less than 50 for females	low
40 to 60 (over 40 for males and over 50 for females is acceptable)	good
60 or higher	ideal

Looking to increase your percentage of HDL cholesterol?

Many foods can help reduce levels of total or LDL (bad) cholesterol, thereby improving your percentage of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. Certain medications and lifestyle changes can also boost HDL levels and support heart health.

Read this article to learn more about HDL and what you can do to raise your HDL levels.

Are there any risks to be aware of from an HDL test?

An HDL test requires a simple, routine blood draw. This rarely causes any serious issues. The risks of giving a blood sample include:

bleeding under the skin
excessive bleeding
infection

Fainting is rare. It typically only occurs in people who have a heightened response to needles.

What are the benefits of cholesterol testing?

Having high cholesterol can lead to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for people in the United States. That’s why it’s so important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly.

Other things you can do to lower your risk of heart disease include:

following a heart-healthy diet
exercising regularly
losing weight if you have overweight or obesity
avoiding or quitting smoking

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Assadi SN, et al. (2017). What are the effects of psychological stress and physical work on blood lipid profiles?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419930/
Cholesterol from you. (n.d.).https://www.fda.gov/files/drugs/published/Infographic-about-Cholesterol-and-Statins.pdf
Grundy SM, et al. (2018). 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
Heart disease facts. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val
How to get your cholesterol tested. (2024).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/how-to-get-your-cholesterol-tested
LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-and-triglycerides.html
Pirillo A, et al. (2015). HDL in infectious diseases and sepsis.https://air.unimi.it/bitstream/2434/274561/2/Pirillo%20A%20HDL%20and%20Sepsis%20Hand%20Exp%20Pharmacol.pdf
Rott D, et al. (2015). Cholesterol levels decrease soon after acute myocardial infarction.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26233997/
Wang H, et al. (2020). Associations between maternal serum HDL-C concentrations during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight: A population-based cohort study.https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-020-01264-0
What your cholesterol levels mean. (2024).https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol/what-your-cholesterol-levels-mean

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Kristin Shaffer, PA-C — Written by Brian Krans and The Healthline Editorial Team — Updated on June 17, 2024

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Sexual Health

Related Hubs

Heart Health

High Cholesterol

Related Topics

Symptoms

Related Articles

Diagnosis

Related Articles

Treatment

Related Articles

Statins

Related Articles

Causes & Risk Factors

Related Articles

Related Conditions

Related Articles

Prevention

Related Hub

Prevention and Lifestyle

Related Articles

Diet

Related Hub

What to Eat

Related Articles

Management

Related Hub

Heart Health 101

Related Articles

Complications

Related Articles

Types

Related Articles

Key takeaways

How often should you have your cholesterol levels checked?

How should you prepare for an HDL test?

What’s the procedure like?

What can I learn from the HDL test results?

Looking to increase your percentage of HDL cholesterol?

Are there any risks to be aware of from an HDL test?

What are the benefits of cholesterol testing?

How we reviewed this article:

related stories

Read this next

Liên Hệ