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 VLDL and Non-HDL cholesterol, giving you two 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 VLDL and other 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 is common when triglycerides are elevated. It means you have significant cholesterol carried in VLDL and other particles beyond LDL. This residual risk should be addressed - often through lifestyle changes, triglyceride reduction, or additional therapy.

Do I really need to fast for this test?

Yes, fasting is important for this panel. While total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL are minimally affected by food, triglycerides and VLDL can spike significantly after eating - potentially doubling or tripling. Non-fasting results make these markers unreliable.

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.

❤️ Heart Health

Cardio IQ Lipid Panel - Advanced Cholesterol Test

Name: Cardio IQ Lipid Panel - Advanced Cholesterol Test
Brand: Justlabs
SKU: 91716
Price: 7 USD
Availability: InStock

Cardio IQ Lipid

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

The Cardio IQ Lipid Panel provides a more detailed assessment of your cholesterol profile than a standard lipid panel. In addition to the basics (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), it includes VLDL cholesterol and Non-HDL cholesterol - markers that give deeper insight into your cardiovascular risk.

Non-HDL cholesterol is increasingly recognized as a better predictor of heart disease than LDL alone because it captures all the "bad" cholesterol particles (LDL + VLDL + other atherogenic lipoproteins).

VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein) carries triglycerides through your bloodstream. Elevated VLDL is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and often correlates with metabolic syndrome.

At just $7, this panel offers exceptional value for comprehensive cardiovascular screening.

Price

Results

1-2 business days

Lab Network

Quest

Fasting

9+ hrs

What's Measured

Total Cholesterol

HDL

LDL

Triglycerides

VLDL

Non-HDL Cholesterol

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)
VLDL Cholesterol: Carries triglycerides, contributes to plaque (optimal: <30 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 and VLDL 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.

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, you'll receive an email from Rupa Health (our lab order partner) within 24 business hours to sign a consent form and schedule your blood draw at a 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.