Why do I need a lipid panel blood test?

There are several reasons why you may need a lipid panel blood test. Healthcare providers use lipid panels often for screen and monitoring purposes.

If you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your provider may suggest frequent screening through the use of a lipid panel to try to catch elevated cholesterol levels before you have symptoms. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• Being over age 45 if you’re a man or you were assigned male at birth and over 50 if you’re a women or you were assigned female at birth.
• Having a high cholesterol result on a previous test.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Having obesity.
• Not getting enough physical activity.
• Having high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Having diabetes or prediabetes.
• Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who developed heart disease at an early age (under 55 in males and under 65 in females).

Children can also have high cholesterol, so your child may need a lipid panel blood test. Cholesterol levels in children are linked to three factors: heredity, diet and obesity. In most cases, kids with high cholesterol have a parent who also has elevated cholesterol.

While providers mostly use lipid panels for screening or monitoring cholesterol levels, providers sometimes use them as part of the diagnostic process for certain health conditions that can affect your lipid levels, including:

• Pancreatitis.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Hypothyroidism.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of any of these conditions, your provider may have you undergo a lipid panel blood test.