Cholesterol, Total

Cholesterol, Total

Test Code

334
82465
CPT Code is subject to a Medicare Limited Coverage Policy and may require a signed ABN when ordering.
334
82465
CPT Code is subject to a Medicare Limited Coverage Policy and may require a signed ABN when ordering.
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection may be available in your area for purchase through Quest Mobile.

Clinical Significance

Cholesterol, Total - Total LDL and HDL cholesterol, in conjunction with a triglyceride determination, provide valuable information for the risk of coronary artery disease. Total serum cholesterol analysis is useful in the diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, hepatic and thyroid diseases.

Test Resources

None found for this test
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Test Details

Patient Preparation

If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required.

The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: "N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been...determined to interfere with assays for...cholesterol, uric acid" where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.

Methodology

Spectrophotometry (SP)

Reference Range(s)

<20 Years <170 mg/dL
≥20 Years <200 mg/dL

LOINC® Codes, Performing Laboratory

Service Area must be determined
If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required.

The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: "N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been...determined to interfere with assays for...cholesterol, uric acid" where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.

Methodology

Spectrophotometry (SP)

Reference Range(s)

<20 Years <170 mg/dL
≥20 Years <200 mg/dL
Service Area must be determined

Preferred Specimen(s)

1 mL serum

Alternative Specimen(s)

Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube or lithium heparin (green-top) tube

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Transport Container

Serum separator tube (SST)

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Serum
  • Room temperature: 7 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: 90 days
  •  
  • Plasma
  • Room temperature: 48 hours
  • Refrigerated: 48 hours
  • Frozen: 6 months

Reject Criteria

Gross hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin • Moderate to gross icterus

Setup Schedule

Service Area must be determined
1 mL serum
Plasma collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube or lithium heparin (green-top) tube
0.5 mL
Serum separator tube (SST)
Room temperature
Serum
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 90 days

Plasma
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: 6 months
Gross hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin • Moderate to gross icterus
Service Area must be determined
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection may be available in your area for purchase through Quest Mobile.
Test Details

Clinical Significance

Test Resources

Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.

The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.

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