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Cholesterol, Total
Test CodeCHOL
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Patient Preparation
If a cholesterol measurement is to be performed along with triglycerides, but not part of a lipid panel, then the patient should be fasting 9-12 hours prior to collection. If the cholesterol is ordered as part of a lipid panel, then a fasting sample is not required.
The assay manufacturer Beckman Coulter advises: "N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), when administered in therapeutic concentrations (for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose), has been...determined to interfere with assays for...cholesterol, uric acid" where "NAC interference may lead to falsely low results." According to Beckman Coulter, the NAC interference should be insignificant by 12 hours after completion of the initial loading dose of an IV infusion treatment regimen consisting of an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg administered over 1 hour, a second dose of 50 mg/kg administered over 4 hours and a third dose of 100 mg/kg administered over 16 hours.
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Heparinized plasma
Transport Container
Serum separator tube (SST)
Transport Temperature
Ambient
Specimen Stability
Ambient: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin • Moderate to gross icterus
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Setup Schedule
24/7
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
<200 mg/dL
Clinical Significance
Total LDL and HDL cholesterol, in conjunction with a triglyceride determination, provide valuable information for the risk of coronary artery disease. Total serum cholesterol analysis is useful in the diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, hepatic and thyroid diseases.
