$8.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Heart & circulation
Direct LDL test
Direct measurement of LDL cholesterol (vs. calculated); can be more accurate when triglycerides are high or after meals.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
LDL is the “bad” cholesterol that can build up in artery walls. Here it’s measured directly instead of estimated from other results, which can be more accurate when blood fats run high.
Why it matters for women
LDL can rise in the years around menopause, when women’s heart risk can start to climb. Measuring it directly can give a truer reading when triglycerides, a type of blood fat, run high, which can be common with PCOS and insulin resistance.
You might check it if…
- your triglycerides have come back high before
- you’re managing PCOS or insulin resistance
- you’re in perimenopause or past menopause
- heart disease runs in your family
What your result may mean
High Direct LDL: what it may mean
High direct LDL may point to a greater chance of plaque in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. Genes, diet, an underactive thyroid, diabetes and kidney disease can push it up, and it can climb around menopause. A healthy goal can depend on your overall risk, so a clinician may weigh blood pressure, family history and smoking too. This direct test can be more accurate when triglycerides run high, which can happen with PCOS and insulin resistance.
Low Direct LDL: what it may mean
Low direct LDL may be favorable for your heart. Very low values can happen with high-intensity statin or PCSK9 inhibitor therapy, and they may be the goal of that treatment. Without those medicines, a very low level can come with an overactive thyroid, liver disease, poor nutrition or an inherited condition that lowers LDL. If nothing explains the number, a clinician may look for a reason with thyroid and liver tests.
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No insurance required · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription
These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.