The Fast Lipid Profile (FLP) blood test is used to assess a person’s risk for the development of cardiovascular disease. It may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment plan that has been implemented for cardiovascular disease. It is a screening blood test that is commonly ordered for adults every 5 years. Children receive this test once between the ages of 9-11 and then one more time before the age of 21.
Fasting is required for the FLP blood test for results to be accurate. This period may last up to 12 hours and only water is permitted during this time period.
The FLP Blood Test Measures Risk
This blood test is part of an overall cardiac risk assessment. It is used to determine what risk profile exists for heart disease development. The test results are compared with other known risk factors so that a plan for treatment or follow-up may be created if needed. Depending on the amount of risk factors that are present, lifestyle changes and medication may be ordered based on the results that are received from the FLP blood test.
What Do the FLP Blood Test Results Mean?
The results that are provided by the FLP blood test are generally compared to the recommended guidelines that have been developed by national organizations such as the National Cholesterol Education Program. There will be measurements on total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol individually, and fasting triglycerides.
Test results are often given as a specific number. This number is a measurement of mg/dL. There is some level of individual variability, but a vast majority of people will have their numbers fit into these categories.
Total Cholesterol Results:
Normal: Below 200
Borderline: 201-239
High: 240 or above
LDL Cholesterol Results:
Normal: Below 100
Near Normal: 100-129
Borderline: 130-159
High: 160-189
Very High: 190 or above
HDL Cholesterol Results:
Normal: 40-50 for men and 50-59 for women
Lower Risk: 60 for both men and women
Higher Risk: Less than 40 for men and less than 50 for women.
Triglycerides After Fasting:
Normal: Below 150
Borderline: 150-199
High: 240-499
Very High: 500+
The FLP blood test may also have a result that is listed as “non-HDL cholesterol.” This is not just a reading of LDL cholesterol. The optimal number for this test would be less than 130. Below 160 is considered near optimal and anything above 160 would be considered borderline to high. Very high results are classified as numbers being higher than 220.
FLP Blood Test Results For Children Are Different
The blood test results for children are classified a little differently for children than they are for adults. Children have acceptable numbers, borderline numbers, or high numbers. Kids 9-11 should have total cholesterol below 170 and non-HDL cholesterol below 120. Borderline results are 170-199 and 120-144 respectively, while high results would be classified as being above 200 or above 145 respectively.
For young adults ages 17-21, then total cholesterol numbers below 190 are considered to be acceptable, while non-HDL cholesterol is considered acceptable when it is below 150. Borderline results are 190-224 and 150-189 respectively, while high results would be greater than 225 or 190 respectively.
What Can Affect Test Results?
Fasting is required because it dramatically alters the triglycerides measurement. When tested without fasting, the triglycerides measure out at post-meal levels instead of pre-meal levels. There is no studied way to measure the heart disease risks from test results taken from individuals who did not fast, so the FLP blood test is essentially useless as a screening tool if fasting does not occur.
LDL cholesterol measurements cannot be accurately calculated if triglycerides are over 400 from the FLP blood test either. In circumstances like this, a separate direct LDL cholesterol blood test must be completed instead.
Some tests also include a measurement of LDL particles instead of just LDL cholesterol. This is because research has found that some people with good levels of LDL cholesterol still have high particle numbers and therefore an increased risk of heart disease. People with diabetes and other chronic health conditions may have the particle counts included with their tests.
Use this guide to ask any questions of a medical provider regarding individual results and what they may mean. High cholesterol numbers can be treated effectively with medication and lifestyle changes, so schedule an appointment if necessary to begin development of a treatment plan. In doing so, the risks for heart disease may be able to be reduced.