What is the difference between this and a regular lipid panel?

A standard lipid panel includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. The Cardio IQ adds Non-HDL cholesterol, giving you additional markers that many cardiologists consider more predictive of heart disease risk than LDL alone.

Why is Non-HDL cholesterol important?

Non-HDL cholesterol captures ALL atherogenic (plaque-causing) particles - not just LDL. This includes remnant particles that LDL alone misses. Many guidelines now recommend Non-HDL as a primary treatment target, especially for people with high triglycerides.

What if my LDL is normal but Non-HDL is high?

This can happen when triglycerides or other atherogenic cholesterol particles are elevated. It means you may have cholesterol carried in particles beyond LDL alone. This broader cardiovascular risk should be reviewed with your healthcare provider and may be addressed through lifestyle changes, triglyceride management, or other treatment options when appropriate.

Do I really need to fast for this test?

Yes, fasting is important for this panel. While total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL are only minimally affected by food, triglycerides can rise significantly after eating. Because triglycerides are part of the lipid assessment, non-fasting results may be less reliable.

How often should I check my cholesterol?

Adults should check at least every 5 years. If you have risk factors (family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking), check annually. If on cholesterol medication, check every 3-6 months initially, then annually once at goal.

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❤️ Heart Health

Cardio IQ Lipid Panel - Advanced Cholesterol Test

Cardio IQ Lipid

A comprehensive cholesterol panel that goes beyond basic lipid testing. Includes total, HDL, and Non-HDL cholesterol for a more complete picture of your cardiovascular risk.

The Cardio IQ Lipid Panel provides an essential assessment of your cholesterol profile and is widely used to help detect, classify, and monitor hyperlipidemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of fats in the blood. It includes key markers such as Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Non-HDL Cholesterol, and Total Cholesterol / HDL Ratio.

Non-HDL cholesterol is an important marker for understanding cardiovascular risk because it captures cholesterol carried by potentially atherogenic particles beyond LDL alone.

At just $8, this panel offers excellent value for routine cardiovascular screening.

Price

All-in

$26

incl. $18 lab & physician fee

Results

1-2 business days

Fasting

9+ hrs

What's Measured

Triglycerides

Total Cholesterol

HDL Cholesterol

LDL Cholesterol

Non-HDL Cholesterol

Total Cholesterol / HDL Ratio

What This Test Measures

This panel measures six lipid markers:

Total Cholesterol: Sum of all cholesterol (optimal: <200 mg/dL)
HDL ("Good" Cholesterol): Protective cholesterol that removes LDL from arteries (optimal: >60 mg/dL)
LDL ("Bad" Cholesterol): Primary driver of arterial plaque (optimal: <100 mg/dL)
Triglycerides: Fat in your blood, elevated by sugar/carbs (optimal: <150 mg/dL)
Non-HDL Cholesterol: Total cholesterol minus HDL - captures all atherogenic particles (optimal: <130 mg/dL)

Who Should Consider This Test

Anyone wanting a thorough assessment of their cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Especially valuable for those with a family history of heart disease, people with high blood pressure, diabetics or prediabetics, anyone with elevated triglycerides, those monitoring the effects of diet or statin therapy, and individuals with metabolic syndrome.

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Conditions Screened

High cholesterolCardiovascular disease riskMetabolic syndromeHypertriglyceridemiaDyslipidemia

Related Symptoms

Cardiovascular risk assessmentHigh cholesterol concernsFamily history of heart diseaseMonitoring cholesterol treatment

When to Get Tested

Fasting for 9-12 hours is required for accurate triglyceride measurements. Water and black coffee (no cream or sugar) are fine. Morning appointments work best. For monitoring, test every 3-6 months when starting treatment, then annually once stable.

Fasting Required

This test requires fasting for accurate results. Please follow these instructions:

Do not eat or drink anything except water for 9-12 hours before your blood draw.
Water is allowed and encouraged - stay hydrated!
Schedule your lab visit in the morning for convenience.
Continue taking any prescribed medications unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

How long to fast, and what breaks a fast →

Understanding Your Results

Quick interpretation guide:

Marker	Optimal	Borderline	High Risk
Total Cholesterol	<200	200-239	≥240
LDL	<100	100-159	≥160
HDL	>60	40-59	<40
Triglycerides	<150	150-199	≥200
Non-HDL	<130	130-159	≥160

Key ratios to consider:

Total/HDL ratio: Optimal <4, ideal <3.5
Triglyceride/HDL ratio: Optimal <2 (marker of insulin resistance)

What to Expect

After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.

The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 1-2 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.

Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.

How much does the Cardio IQ Lipid test cost?

The Cardio IQ Lipid test costs $8 at JustLabs — $26 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.