Test Code 251(Includes total cholesterol, HDL and non-HDL)
Test Details
Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (Non-HDL-C)
Non-HDL-C is a calculation that represents the cholesterol carried by all atherogenic particles including:
- Chylomicron remnants
- VLDL
- IDL
- LDL
- Lp(a)
Methodology
Non-HDL-C is calculated as follows:
Non-HDL-C = Total cholesterol – High-density cholesterol
Patient Preparation
8-12 hour fast prior to collection. Patient may drink water only.
Preferred Specimen
Green Top Tube
(Lithium Heparin plasma separator tube with gel)
Alternate Specimen
1.0 mL EDTA plasma (0.5 mL minimum) collected in plasma separator tube (Pearl Top)
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (ship on frozen cold packs)
Stability
Refrigerated: 7 days
Lab Values
Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (Non-HDL-C)
| Age | Optimal | Borderline | Increased Risk |
| ≤18 yrs | <120 mg/dL | 120 – 144 mg/dL | >144 mg/dL |
| >18 yrs with CVD | <100 mg/dL | 100 – 130 mg/dL | >130 mg/dL |
| >18 yrs without CVD | <130 mg/dL | 130 – 190 mg/dL | >190 mg/dL |
Clinical Significance
Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (Non-HDL-C)
- When TGs are high, LDL-C does not accurately reflect the amount of circulating atherogenic particles. In this situation, non-HDL-C may be a better predictor of CVD risk than LDL-C.1-2
- Non-HDL-C has been shown in many studies to be superior to calculated LDL-C in predicting heart disease risk.1-2
References:
- Goff DC Jr, Lloyd-Jones DM, Bennett G, et al. 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2014;129(25 Suppl 2):S49-73.
- Stone NJ, Robinson J, Lichtenstein AH, et al. 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2014;129(25 Suppl 2):S49-73.
Treatment Options
Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (Non-HDL-C)
- Lifestyle modification
- Statins
- Niacin
- Fibrates
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Bile acid sequestrants
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
