Know your HDL/Total Chol. Know your health.
Test your HDL/Total Cholesterol Ratio and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.
Normal range: 0.2 – 1 (higher is better)
This ratio measures what proportion of your total cholesterol is the protective HDL type. Higher ratios indicate a more favorable lipid profile and lower cardiovascular risk. It is essentially the inverse of the cholesterol/HDL ratio, presented as a fraction rather than a whole number.
HDL/Total Chol is calculated rather than ordered on its own, so it comes with a standard lipid panel (about $45). A fuller workup adds Vitamin D ($75), hs-CRP ($69), ApoB ($50), and ApoA1 ($50). You can test HDL/Total Chol and 100 other biomarkers for $190 as part of an Empirical membership.
Empirical is FSA/HSA eligible, so you can pay with pre-tax dollars. Fast for 8-12 hours beforehand for the most accurate lipid and metabolic results, and expect results in days rather than weeks.
A normal HDL/Total Chol is 0.2 – 1. Higher is better.
A low HDL/total cholesterol ratio means HDL makes up too small a share. Inactivity, smoking, obesity, and a diet high in refined carbs all suppress HDL. Raising HDL through regular exercise and lowering LDL through diet improvement are the most effective approaches.
Because this is the flip side of the cholesterol/HDL ratio, all the same lifestyle changes and medications apply. Exercise improves the ratio from both directions (raising HDL and helping lower total cholesterol).
HDL/Total Chol is most highly correlated with Estimated VLDL and Apolipoprotein B. Here are the top biomarkers correlated with HDL/Total Chol, based on 500,000 tests done by Empirical Health.
The percentage shows how strongly two biomarkers move together. A higher number means the relationship is stronger. Green = rises and falls together. Orange = one rises as the other falls.
HDL/Total Chol is drawn at 2,200+ Quest and BioReference patient service centers across the US, so there's usually one within a short drive. Browse the full directory to find the one closest to you.
Test your HDL/Total Cholesterol Ratio and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.