Lipid panel
LDL cholesterol
Measured in mg/dL
What it measures
Cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein particles.
Why it is tracked
The long-standing primary lipid target. Useful, but it measures cholesterol content rather than particle number, which is why ApoB is often more informative.
What a provider considers
- Usually calculated rather than measured directly
- Can understate risk where particle number is high but particles are small
- Reviewed alongside ApoB and triglycerides
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.