Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol with Ratio
Test code
CPT code(s)*
Clinical significance
Test resources
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Details
Includes
Cholesterol, Total; HDL Cholesterol; Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (calculated)
If an HDL Cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with Triglycerides, the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection.
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Specimen requirements | |
|---|---|
| Patient preparation | If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. 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 hrs and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hrs. |
| 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 |
| Collection instructions | Centrifuge within 30-60 minutes following collection |
| Transport container | Transport tube |
| Transport temperature | Room temperature |
| Specimen stability | Serum Room temperature: 48 hours Refrigerated: 7 days Frozen: 28 days Plasma Room temperature: 48 hours Refrigerated: 48 hours Frozen: 28 days |
| Reject criteria | Gross hemolysis • Moderate to gross icterus • Anticoagulants other than heparin |
Reference Range(s)
Total Cholesterol | Male (mg/dL) | Female (mg/dL) |
| <20 Years | <170 | <170 |
| ≥20 Years | <200 | <200 |
| HDL Cholesterol | ||
| <20 Years | >45 | >45 |
| ≥20 Years | ≥40 | ≥50 |
| Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (Calc) | <5.0 | <5.0 |
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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