Key takeaways
- Cholesterol testing measures several different fats in your blood, not a single number, so "normal" depends on which figure you're looking at.
- Blood London's lipid profile checks total, HDL, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides for £72.50 plus the £50 blood draw, with results back in 1 day.
- NHS guidance describes a total cholesterol of 5 mmol/L or under as a general target, but your doctor judges your result against your overall cardiovascular risk rather than that number alone.
- NHS guidance puts HDL ("good") cholesterol at 1 mmol/L or above for men and 1.2 mmol/L or above for women, and LDL at 3 mmol/L or under.
- Most people do not need to fast before a standard lipid profile.
- Non-HDL cholesterol, which NHS guidance suggests keeping at 4 mmol/L or under, is increasingly used as a single figure because it adds up all the higher-risk cholesterol types together.
NHS guidance describes a normal total cholesterol as 5 mmol/L or under, HDL ("good" cholesterol) at 1 mmol/L or above for men and 1.2 or above for women, LDL at 3 mmol/L or under, and non-HDL at 4 mmol/L or under. These are general targets rather than a diagnosis, and your doctor weighs your result against your overall heart disease risk. A lipid profile checks all of these from one sample.
Book a lipid profile at 117a Harley Street: £72.50 plus the £50 blood draw, results back in 1 day.
What do the different cholesterol numbers mean?
A cholesterol test, usually called a lipid profile, reports five separate figures rather than one. Total cholesterol is the sum of all the cholesterol carried in your blood. LDL is often called "bad" cholesterol because it can build up in artery walls. HDL is called "good" cholesterol because it helps carry excess cholesterol away. Non-HDL cholesterol is everything except HDL added together, and is used by many doctors as a single overall marker because it captures all the higher-risk particles in one figure. Triglycerides are a separate type of fat, affected by diet, alcohol, weight and blood sugar control.
| Marker | What it is | NHS guidance figure |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | All cholesterol types combined | 5 mmol/L or under |
| HDL cholesterol | The protective, "good" type | 1 mmol/L or above (men), 1.2 or above (women) |
| LDL cholesterol | The "bad" type linked to artery build-up | 3 mmol/L or under |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | Total minus HDL; all higher-risk types combined | 4 mmol/L or under |
| Triglycerides (fasting) | A separate blood fat | Under 1.7 mmol/L |
NHS general guidance figures. Your doctor judges your result against your overall cardiovascular risk, not against this table alone.
Do I need to fast before a cholesterol test?
Most people do not need to fast before a standard lipid profile. A recent meal mainly affects the triglyceride result, so if a doctor has specifically asked you to fast, it is usually for that reason. Water is fine either way, and you should tell the person taking your sample whether you have eaten.
Why does my cholesterol result matter more as part of a risk score than as a single number?
Because cholesterol is one of several things that affect heart disease risk, alongside blood pressure, smoking, weight, diabetes and family history, doctors generally look at your result as part of a wider risk score such as QRISK3 rather than judging it alone. Two people with the same LDL cholesterol can have quite different overall risk depending on the rest of their picture. This is also why the same total cholesterol can be treated differently in different people, and why understanding your cholesterol ratio alongside the individual numbers can add useful context.
What raises cholesterol?
Diet, particularly saturated fat, is one factor, alongside body weight, how much you move, smoking and alcohol. Some of it is genetic: a strong family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease can raise your levels regardless of lifestyle. Certain health conditions, including an underactive thyroid, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease, can also affect your result, which is one reason a doctor interprets the numbers alongside the rest of your health rather than in isolation. A very high result, or high cholesterol with a family history of early heart disease, can point to an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia, which a doctor should assess.
What if my cholesterol result is high?
A raised LDL, total or non-HDL cholesterol, or a low HDL, is a risk factor rather than a diagnosis on its own. Your laboratory report shows the reference range used alongside each result. If a marker sits outside what is expected, book a follow-up with a doctor to discuss what it means for you specifically, since the right next step depends on your wider risk picture, not the number alone. You can add a doctor review of your report to your test for £75. Chest pain, especially if it spreads to your arm, jaw or back or comes with breathlessness or sweating, is an emergency: call 999.
Are there tests that look at cholesterol in more detail than a standard lipid profile?
Yes. Some people want more detail than the standard five markers. HDL cholesterol can be tested on its own where only that figure is needed (£58.13 plus the £50 blood draw, results in 1 day). Apolipoprotein B, tested through the ApoB blood test, looks at the particles that carry cholesterol into artery walls, and some doctors consider it a more precise marker than LDL alone (£98.75 plus the £50 blood draw, results in 3 days). Lipoprotein(a) is a separate, largely inherited type of cholesterol particle; because the level changes little through life, it is often tested only once (£79.38 plus the £50 blood draw, results in 1 day). For a fuller cardiovascular picture in one visit, see the range of heart health blood tests available.
How cholesterol testing works at our Harley Street clinic
The lipid profile is one of our most requested private blood tests in London, costing £72.50 plus the £50 blood draw, and most people do not need to fast. Results are sent by email, usually within 1 day. You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week, with no GP referral needed. If you would like these markers alongside a doctor's examination and a wider health assessment, the Full Body MOT health check covers cholesterol as part of a broader review.
Book your lipid profile online or walk in at 117a Harley Street: £72.50 plus the £50 blood draw, results by email in 1 day. Start your booking.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good cholesterol level for my age?
NHS guidance gives the same general targets for adults rather than different figures by age, though your doctor takes your age into account as part of your overall risk score. A cholesterol test on its own doesn't set an age-specific target.
Can I lower my cholesterol without medication?
Diet, activity, weight and stopping smoking can all improve your numbers, and many people are advised to try lifestyle changes first. Whether that's enough, or whether treatment is also needed, is a decision for your doctor based on your full risk picture.
Does high cholesterol have symptoms?
Usually not. High cholesterol is picked up through testing rather than symptoms, which is one reason routine checks matter even when you feel well.
How often should I check my cholesterol?
That depends on your risk factors and history. The NHS Health Check, which includes a cholesterol test, is offered every 5 years to adults aged 40 to 74, and people on treatment or with a strong family history are usually tested more often, as their doctor advises.
Is a private lipid profile the same test as the NHS uses?
It reports the same standard markers: total, HDL, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The private route mainly changes speed and convenience.
What's the difference between LDL and non-HDL cholesterol?
LDL is one specific cholesterol type. Non-HDL is everything except HDL added together, so it also includes LDL and other higher-risk particles, which is why some doctors treat it as the more complete figure.
References
- Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification (NICE)
- High cholesterol (NHS)
- High cholesterol: cholesterol levels (NHS)
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia (NICE)