Buying Guide For Best Home Cholesterol Test Kits
If your cholesterol levels dont fall within normal ranges, you are at risk for strokes and cardiovascular disease. To stay healthy, lipid profile blood testing as prescribed by your healthcare provider is important. But, in between doctor visits, how do you know if youre keeping your levels in check?
Home cholesterol test kits provide an easy way to test various forms of cholesterol and triglycerides. Many tests available on todays market offer a high degree of accuracy, and some are even approved by the Food and Drug Administration . And while home cholesterol testing should never take the place of thorough lipid testing performed by your doctor, its a good tool for monitoring your numbers before your next visit.
Whether this is your first time shopping for a home cholesterol test kit or you are browsing different options to find the best one for your needs, youve come to the right place. We have selected the top kits available based on reliability and results and put together a handy shopping guide below to help you choose the right kit for your needs.
Mylab Box At Home Cholesterol And Lipids Test
Best for phone consultations
myLAB Box offers a finger prick collection method. This FDA-registered entity states that it works with CAP and CLIA-certified laboratories.
The company offers free 2-day shipping on home kits. Once a person has collected their blood sample, they should receive their results within 25 days.
myLAB Box states that people do not need to fast or adjust their diet before collecting their sample. It also recommends that people still take any prescription medications until they discuss the test results with a doctor.
A person can also book a consultation with a myLAB Box physician if they receive a positive result.
A person may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of myLAB Box.
A test kit costs $89.
What If My Cholesterol Levels Aren’t Healthy
As your LDL cholesterol gets higher, so does your risk of heart disease. Take these steps to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease:
- Eat heart-healthy foods
- Stay at a healthy weight
- If you smoke, quit
- If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, take steps to manage it
- Ask your doctor about taking medicine to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke
Read Also: Does Egg Beaters Have Cholesterol
Getting Your Cholesterol Checked
Many people have never had their cholesterol checked, so they dont know whether they are at risk.
High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms.
The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. Your health care team can do a simple blood test, called a lipid profile, to measure your cholesterol levels.
Check Your Heart Rate
Your heart rate, also known as your pulse, is a basic measurement of heart health, which is why your doctor or nurse often listens for it during check-ups. It’s easy to measure at home with no equipment and offers useful information about your heart and overall fitness.
Your heart rate naturally changes throughout the day, depending on how much you’re exerting yourself. During moments of high stress or intense physical exertion, for example, your heart beats faster. When you’re relaxed or asleep, it beats more slowly.
There are two types of heart rate you can measure at home: resting heart rate and maximum heart rate. First, we’ll go over what each one means. Then we’ll explain how to measure.
Don’t Miss: Diy Cholesterol Test
What Are The Drawbacks
While home test kits offer several benefits, they also have shortcomings.
-
Limited measurements. Many kits only measure your overall cholesterol levels. This is not enough information to assess your heart health. You can have a normal total cholesterol level, but still have high LDL or bad cholesterol. To get a clear assessment of your heart health, look for a kit that tests LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels.
-
Hard to read. If you dont use a kit with an electronic meter, you may have trouble reading the color on the test strip. This will make it more difficult to interpret your test results.
-
Lack of medical evaluation. Home health kits cannot replace your healthcare providers insights. Only your physician can consider factors such as your weight, diet, exercise, blood pressure, and whether or not you smoke. This will help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you if your cholesterol is high.
When To Call The Doctor
If youâve had your blood pressure or cholesterol checked at the doctorâs office, your health care providers can help you to understand the results. Theyâll also consider the results in the context of any other potential risk factors you may have.
A cholesterol test may give you more than one number:
- Total cholesterol. A normal total cholesterol reading is less than 200 mg/dL.
- LDL cholesterol. A normal LDL cholesterol reading is less than 100 mg/dL.
- HDL cholesterol. Itâs good to have an HDL cholesterol of more than 60 mg/dL.
- Triglycerides. This is another type of fat in blood. Normal levels are less than 150 mg/dL.
If youâve tested cholesterol at a health fair or at home and you got a high reading or you arenât sure, call your doctor.
If youâre keeping tabs on your blood pressure at home, keep in mind that a normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Call your doctor if you get a consistently high reading or you notice a change.
If your blood pressure suddenly exceeds 180/120 mm Hg, wait a few minutes and check again. Blood pressure thatâs this high can immediately damage organs and is a medical emergency. If this happens, call 911.
Many people have high blood pressure or cholesterol. But too many of them donât know they have it. By checking your numbers, youâll know if itâs time to take steps to help lower your risk of a more serious health problem.
Show Sources
Mayo Clinic: âCholesterol test kits: Are they accurate?â
Also Check: How Much Cholesterol In Pork Chops
Are All Home Cholesterol Tests Accurate
Home cholesterol tests are more accurate and convenient than ever before. In fact, WebMD claims over-the-counter cholesterol tests are 95 percent accurate. While that isnt as accurate as your doctors reading , the ease of use and affordability of home tests make them worth the money. They range in price from $50-$300, and come with all the tools you need to quickly check your cholesterol levels. While it can take weeks to learn your ordered test results, home tests can take as little as five minutes to read and report your levels.
What Is A Home Cholesterol Test
A home cholesterol test is a DIY medical screening that claims to be as accurate as traditional lab screenings. It measures your cholesterol levels and compares them to the accepted range. The process of determining your total cholesterol level includes testing various biomarkers which together help determine if you are at a higher risk of contracting heart disease, stroke or other severe conditions that are associated with abnormal cholesterol levels.
A complete cholesterol test is known as a lipid panel or lipid profile. With a complete test, you will be able to measure the amount of good and bad cholesterol in your blood and also know your triglycerides level, a type of fat, in your blood.
If any of your numbers are outside the healthy range, you are considered to have high cholesterol.
Read Also: Does Tuna Fish Have Cholesterol
What Does It Mean If I Have High Cholesterol
A high cholesterol level may indicate a higher risk of plaque buildup, heart disease, and high blood pressure. This isnât always the case, though, since total cholesterol includes seemingly beneficial lipids such as HDL. So itâs best to talk with your healthcare provider to understand what high cholesterol may mean for your health. A lipid panel may help you better understand your current risk for cardiovascular events and what actions you may be able to take.
Why Trust Verywell Health
As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands how important it is to know exactly what youre getting in a product intended for medical use. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to condition-specific products to homeopathic essential oils, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.
Additional reporting to this story by Jennifer Nied
As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.
Recommended Reading: Do Ritz Crackers Have Fiber
Home Cholesterol Tests And Sampling Kits
There are a wide variety of home cholesterol test kits and home sampling kits online, and of varying quality. The home cholesterol test kits measure your cholesterol using a solid-state monitor with colour changes that you view on a chart. With sampling kits, you take a small blood sample at home which you post to a laboratory for testing, and you receive your results later.
We would suggest that it is better to have tests carried out by a trained healthcare professional than to take a test or sample yourself. If you have never taken a blood sample yourself the chances are that your first attempt will be challenging. The blood sample might not be enough, or of a high enough quality, and this could affect your results.
What Does A Cholesterol Test Measure
A complete cholesterol test measures the levels of lipids, or fats, in your blood. It primarily measures your:
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is referred to as good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from your blood.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is referred to as bad cholesterol. Too much of it can cause cholesterol to build up on the walls of your arteries. This raises your risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
- Triglycerides. When you eat, your body breaks down fats in your food into smaller molecules called triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides in your blood increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Having obesity or unmanaged diabetes, drinking too much alcohol, and eating a high calorie diet can all contribute to high triglyceride levels.
- Very low-density lipoprotein . Your blood also contains another type of cholesterol linked to an
In the United States, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood.
Recommended Reading: Tuna Good For Cholesterol
How To Monitor Your Cholesterol Levels
This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 2,438 times.
In order to monitor your cholesterol, you need to know what levels are healthy and what levels are not. You also need to know when to go for screening blood tests to check on your cholesterol levels. If you do get diagnosed with high cholesterol, the frequency with which you go for blood tests and monitor your cholesterol levels will need to increase.
Types Of Home Cholesterol Test Kits
Strip-only tests: This inexpensive home cholesterol test is the most basic and involves placing drops of blood on test strips. Color changes indicate cholesterol numbers. These easy-to-use kits typically include strips, a lancet, and blood collection droppers for several readings and give quick results. The primary drawback is that they have higher reports of inaccuracies than other kits, making them not ideal for consumers who need reliable readings, such as those with known high cholesterol.
Meter tests: Home cholesterol tests that require a meter work similarly to blood glucose tests and provide a fast reading with a decent level of accuracy. Its also an affordable option one meter is all thats needed for repeated testing. You can choose a meter by itself or one that comes with lancets, strips, and blood collection droppers. However, there is a learning curve when you begin using a meter and inconsistent readings can occur. Some kits offer dual capabilities for also testing glucose levels .
You May Like: Is White Rice High In Cholesterol
Having Your Cholesterol Measured By A Doctor
Does Heredity Play A Role
It can. High cholesterol can run in families. An inherited disorder, familial hypercholesterolemia, may make it harder for your body to clear LDL cholesterol from your blood.
If heart disease runs in your family, let your doctor know. Its important that your doctor monitor your cholesterol and other heart disease markers as a preventive measure.
Also Check: How Much Cholesterol In Skinless Chicken Breast
Features Of Selfcheck Cholesterol Test
- Provides a reliable estimate of the total cholesterol level in the blood
- Easy to follow instructions
- Early detection of potential raised cholesterol
- A visible result in three minutes
- Everything you need to complete the test at home
What’s included
*Please note: If your chosen pharmacy is in the North West, North East, Yorkshire, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Scottish Highlands and Islands your order will take an additional working day to these delivery times. To find out if your pharmacy is impacted .
How To Check Heart Health At Home
When it comes to tracking your heart health, fancy medical devices aren’t always necessary. You can get key info with just a few minutes and some math.
Kim Wong-Shing
Senior Associate Editor
Kim Wong-Shing is a senior associate editor at CNET, covering health and wellness. She has five years of experience in digital media, and she loves demystifying the world of wellness to make it accessible for a range of different readers.
You don’t need to be an expert to know that your heart health is important. But you do need to be an expert to get a full-360 view of your heart health, from your blood pressure to your cholesterol levels and more. If you, like many people, put off going to the doctor for your yearly check-ups, you might just be hoping that everything’s pretty much copacetic when it comes to your heart anyway.
But you know what they say about assuming. Heart health issues are incredibly common: heart disease is the leading cause of death for most racial and ethnic groups in the US, per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and someone in the US has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
To be clear, we recommend regularly getting your heart checked out by a pro. But in the meantime, there are ways to monitor your own heart health yourself, right in the comfort of your home, without any special devices — you just need a few minutes and a bit of math.
Also Check: Does Shrimp Has Cholesterol
Pts Diagnostics Cardiochek Analyzer
Price: $$
If you dont need blood sugar testing, you may prefer this less-expensive device made specifically for home use. It uses the same technology as the CardioChek Plus but only tests for cholesterol, not glucose.
This complete kit includes everything you need for testing:
- handheld, battery-operated meter
- nine lancets
- nine test strips for HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides
It provides a large digital readout of your results within 45 seconds of testing. If you prefer a language other than English, you can program the meter to display your results in another language, such as Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and Russian.
Additional test strips are sold separately.
It comes with a 1-year factory warranty.
Type Of Cholesterol Measured
All at-home cholesterol test kits measure total cholesterol, and the more advanced options provide HDL and triglycerides readings as well. Only one of the FDA-approved cholesterol test kits also measures LDL. Pay close attention to what each test measures if youre in need of a more comprehensive analysis, and expect higher price tags on the tests that provide more measurements.
Also Check: Is Tuna Fish Bad For Cholesterol