Core Health Blood Test Kit

Total cholesterol measures all cholesterol circulating in your blood—the combined total of HDL, LDL, and other lipoprotein fractions. Cholesterol is essential for building cell membranes, producing hormones (including testosterone, oestrogen, and cortisol), synthesising vitamin D, and making bile acids for digestion. Your liver manufactures most of your cholesterol, with dietary sources contributing a smaller amount. Total cholesterol alone has significant limitations for assessing cardiovascular risk because it doesn't distinguish between protective HDL and harmful LDL—you could have high total cholesterol driven by beneficial HDL, or 'normal' total cholesterol that masks dangerously low HDL. The complete breakdown provided in this panel gives much more useful information. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is commonly called 'bad cholesterol' because elevated levels are strongly linked to atherosclerosis—the build-up of fatty plaques inside artery walls. LDL particles transport cholesterol from the liver to tissues throughout the body. While necessary, excess LDL can penetrate artery walls and trigger inflammation, leading to plaque formation that narrows arteries and can rupture to cause heart attacks and strokes. LDL is the primary target for cardiovascular risk reduction—lowering LDL consistently reduces heart attack and stroke risk. Targets vary by overall risk, but lower is generally better. Diet modifications (reducing saturated fat, increasing fibre), regular exercise, and maintaining healthy weight can all help lower LDL. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

Non-HDL cholesterol is calculated by subtracting HDL from total cholesterol. It represents all the potentially atherogenic (artery-clogging) cholesterol—not just LDL, but also VLDL, IDL, and lipoprotein remnants that can all contribute to plaque formation. Many cardiovascular experts consider non-HDL a better risk marker than LDL alone because it captures the full atherogenic burden. This is especially important for people with elevated triglycerides, who often carry significant cholesterol in VLDL particles that LDL testing doesn't capture. Non-HDL also has the practical advantage of remaining accurate regardless of whether you've fasted. The recommended target is below 4.0 mmol/L, with lower targets for those at higher cardiovascular risk. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is called 'good cholesterol' because it helps protect against cardiovascular disease. HDL particles perform 'reverse cholesterol transport'—collecting excess cholesterol from tissues and artery walls and carrying it back to the liver for disposal. This process helps prevent cholesterol from accumulating in arteries. Higher HDL is associated with lower cardiovascular risk—levels above 1.0 mmol/L in men and 1.2 mmol/L in women are generally desirable. Low HDL is an independent risk factor even when LDL is normal. Regular aerobic exercise is one of the most effective ways to raise HDL. Other factors that increase HDL include maintaining healthy weight and not smoking. Factors that decrease HDL include smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poorly controlled diabetes. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

The total cholesterol to HDL ratio is calculated by dividing total cholesterol by HDL cholesterol. This ratio is more informative than total cholesterol alone because it reflects the balance between all cholesterol and protective HDL—indicating whether your cholesterol is predominantly helpful or harmful. A lower ratio is better: below 4 is optimal, 4-6 indicates moderate risk, and above 6 suggests elevated cardiovascular risk. This ratio is used in cardiovascular risk calculators like QRISK (used in UK general practice) to estimate your 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke. Improving this ratio involves either lowering total cholesterol or raising HDL—ideally both. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

Triglycerides are the main form of fat circulating in your blood. After eating, your body converts excess calories—from fats, carbohydrates, or protein—into triglycerides, which are transported to fat cells for storage and released for energy between meals. Elevated fasting triglycerides indicate you're taking in more calories than you're burning, or that clearance of triglyceride-rich particles is impaired. This is commonly associated with excessive calorie intake (particularly refined carbohydrates and alcohol), obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Very high triglycerides (above 10 mmol/L) can cause pancreatitis. Moderately elevated triglycerides increase cardiovascular risk because they're linked to small, dense LDL particles and low HDL. Fasting triglycerides below 1.7 mmol/L are desirable. Triglycerides are most affected by recent food intake, so fasting gives the most accurate measurement. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.

HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) measures the percentage of haemoglobin in your red blood cells that has glucose attached to it. Because red blood cells live for approximately 2-3 months, HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose levels over this period—giving a much more meaningful picture of blood sugar control than a single glucose measurement, which only captures a moment in time. HbA1c is the primary test used for screening for and monitoring diabetes. Normal HbA1c is below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%). A level of 42-47 mmol/mol (6.0-6.4%) indicates prediabetes—increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A level of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or above indicates diabetes. Prediabetes is an important finding because lifestyle changes at this stage (weight loss, increased physical activity, dietary modifications) can often prevent or delay progression to type 2 diabetes. For people with established diabetes, HbA1c is used to monitor how well blood sugar is controlled—most people with diabetes aim for a target below 48-58 mmol/mol, though individual targets vary. Poorly controlled diabetes (persistently elevated HbA1c) significantly increases the risk of complications including cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke), kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), eye disease (diabetic retinopathy), and nerve damage (neuropathy). HbA1c is not affected by whether you've fasted or what you've eaten recently, making it a convenient marker. Results outside the normal range may need a follow-up with your GP.