Cholesterol Home Test Kits: Uses, Test Results, and Reliability
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Samples that are sent to a laboratory are more likely to give the full breakdown. We would suggest that it is better to have tests carried out by a trained healthcare professional than to take a test or sample yourself. If you have never taken a blood sample yourself the chances are that your first attempt will be challenging. The blood sample might not be enough, or of a high enough quality, and this could affect your results.
Testing your cholesterol is a quick, easy, and important way to evaluate your risk of developing conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or stroke. While getting tested at your doctor’s office is the most reliable option, you can also use at-home tests that require only a small blood sample and a few minutes of waiting. In addition, even if you consistently get normal results from your cholesterol home kit test strips, it's very important to consult with your health care provider. Your health care provider may conduct other tests aside from the cholesterol screening. In addition, even if you consistently get normal results from your cholesterol home kit test strips, it’s very important to consult with your health care provider. If you obtain cholesterol screening results from a source outside of your doctor’s office, be sure to share those with your primary care physician.
How do home kits measure cholesterol?
People that have cholesterol levels outside the desired ranges should consider talking to their healthcare professional. Different cholesterol values determine what type of treatment plan is most appropriate. It is important for someone to know their cholesterol levels to make certain lifestyle changes to get to a healthy range. Numbers outside the desired level may mean a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Other tests may involve mailing the blood sample to a lab that performs the test and issues results. With laboratory-based tests, people receive their at-home test kit with all the necessary tools, such as alcohol swabs, collection tubes, and pre-addressed envelopes.
These blood pressure monitors generally cost between $40 and $100. Although they’re easier to use, they’re also sensitive and the readings can be influenced by your body position. Health professionals generally recommend having these devices adjusted at least once a year to make sure they’re still accurate.
Our picks for the best at-home cholesterol tests
Theyâll also consider the results in the context of any other potential risk factors you may have. The results of your lipid profile test may also show your non-HDL cholesterol number. Non-HDL cholesterol is LDL cholesterol and the other “bad” types of cholesterol.
The meter may start analyzing your sample automatically, or you may need to press a button to begin the process. Once again, follow the product instructions and talk to your pharmacist if you need help. Hold your finger pad-side up and wait for 1-2 drops of blood to bubble up from the lancet prick. Wipe the clearly-marked testing area of the strip over the blood to transfer it to the strip.
How Accurate Are Home Cholesterol Tests?
With home kits for genetic testing, you take a sample which you send to a laboratory for testing. Saturated fats — such as those in meat, butter, cheese and other full-fat dairy products — raise your total cholesterol. Decreasing your consumption of saturated fats to less than 7 percent of your total daily calorie intake can reduce your LDL cholesterol by 8 to 10 percent. All you have to do is prick your finger with thesingle-uselancet enclosed with the test and then apply one drop of your blood to the “test” area of the test card.
Children who have obesity or diabetes may need to be screened for high cholesterol more often. Anisha Shah, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology. She served as a Medical Advisor at Cigna, Physician Editor at MCG Health, and is currently a Physician Clinician Reviewer at Magellan Health.
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You can also check your risk yourself using the Check. There are home cholesterol test kits available that have been U.S. FDA approved, but their accuracy is not necessarily as good as that of a certified laboratory. These tests usually measure total cholesterol only, but some also can measure HDL, LDL, and cholesterol. If you use one of the home kits, it is wise to discuss the results with your health-care professional. Take two women with "normal" total cholesterol levels of 195 mg/dL.
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Cholesterol home test kits are available to use between appointments with your health care provider. That’s why it’s important to have your doctor check your cholesterol levels with a simple blood test. Having high levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke. Many home cholesterol tests can measure total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides from a blood sample. These tests can be purchased online or at your local pharmacy.
Since most color-coded strip test kits only test for total cholesterol, your only point of comparison will probably be the recommended total cholesterol range. For the average healthy adult, the ideal range is between 125 to 200 mg/dl. However, your ideal range may be different, based on your particular circumstances. If your results are between 5.0mmol/l and 7.5mmol/l you may like to speak to your pharmacist about maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and discuss the options available. It is important to remember that most home cholesterol testing kits using a solid statement monitor will only give your total cholesterol and not the full breakdown of your results.
However, it’s important that you follow the test instructions exactly, or your results may be skewed. Choose a color-coded strip kit for a budget-friendly, basic option. Pharmacies often carry several types of tests that utilize a color-changing strip to assess your cholesterol. They’re less expensive than multi-use digital testers, usually costing $20-$50 USD, and are reasonably accurate when used correctly. However, they generally don’t break down the different aspects of your cholesterol reading.
In general, you're better off not checking your cholesterol at home. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Dietary changes to make include eating less saturated fat and trans fats, including processed foods and red meat. You can replace those with foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon. Your test results will be sent to your device within several days. You’ll also get a comprehensive, personalized report that explains what each number means.
Are Cholesterol Home Test Kits Regulated By The Fda
Triglycerides are another important fat-carrying particle. It provides a large digital readout of your results within 45 seconds of testing. If you prefer a language other than English, you can program the meter to display your results in another language, such as Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and Russian. This battery-operated, handheld meter was designed for use in medical offices.
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