Lipid panel
ApoB
Also called Apolipoprotein B · measured in mg/dL
What it measures
The number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles in circulation, since each carries exactly one ApoB molecule.
Why it is tracked
A better measure of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol, because risk tracks particle number rather than the cholesterol those particles carry. Two people with identical LDL can carry very different ApoB.
What a provider considers
- Increasingly preferred to LDL-C in risk assessment
- Not affected by the discordance that limits LDL-C
- A core longevity marker
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.