A lipid profile is a blood test that measures the fats in your blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides, to assess your risk of heart disease and stroke. It suits anyone with a family history of high cholesterol, anyone monitoring statin or lifestyle changes, or anyone who simply wants a baseline reading of their cardiovascular health. The test costs £72.50, plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results back within 1 day. You can walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week, with no GP referral needed.
Many people ask for a lipid profile with no symptoms at all, simply because a parent or sibling has had high cholesterol or an early heart attack. A family history like this is one of the most common reasons a doctor requests the test.
If you have started a statin, changed your diet, or increased exercise, repeating the profile shows whether the change is working. Doctors typically compare results over several months rather than judging a single reading in isolation.
Other risk factors, including smoking, high blood pressure, carrying extra weight, or type 2 diabetes, all raise the case for checking your lipids as part of a wider cardiovascular picture.
No special preparation is listed for this profile, and most people do not need to fast beforehand. If your doctor has specifically asked you to fast, follow their instructions, since a recent meal can affect the triglyceride result.
A raised total or LDL cholesterol, or a raised non-HDL cholesterol, is commonly associated with a higher long-term risk of heart disease, though it says nothing on its own about whether you already have narrowed arteries. A low HDL reading is looked at the same way, as a risk factor rather than a diagnosis.
High triglycerides can reflect diet, alcohol, weight, or an underlying metabolic condition, and are usually considered alongside the rest of the profile rather than in isolation. Your laboratory report will show the reference range used, and a clinician needs to weigh the numbers against your age, family history, and other risk factors before drawing any conclusion. If your results fall outside the expected range, book a follow-up with a doctor to discuss what they mean for you. For the NHS guidance figure for each marker, see normal cholesterol levels.
If you want these markers alongside a doctor's examination and a wider health assessment, compare the Full Body MOT health check.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 24/09/2026.
Most people do not need to fast for this test, but if your doctor has told you to fast, follow their instructions, as it can affect the triglyceride result. Let the phlebotomist know your fasting status when you arrive.
LDL is often called 'bad' cholesterol because it can build up in the artery walls, while HDL is called 'good' cholesterol because it helps clear cholesterol away. The lipid profile reports both, plus the total and non-HDL figures, for a fuller picture.
That depends on your risk factors and history, and is best discussed with a doctor. Many people repeat the test every one to five years, or more often if they are on treatment or have a family history of heart disease.
Yes. Compare the Full Body MOT health check if you would like your results talked through alongside a wider assessment and examination.