Cardiovascular Risk Assessment: Total Cholesterol and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio (Serum)
This test measures your total cholesterol and calculates the ratio of your total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It helps assess your risk for heart disease.
["A lower cholesterol ratio may indicate better heart health, but results depend on other factors like diet, exercise, and overall health."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 5098-9
- Short code
- COLDAG
- Synonyms
- CA Titr SerPl Aggl
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum separator tube (SST) or plain red-top tube; pre-warmed to 37°C prior to collection
- Units
- N/A
- Ref high
- 4
- Critical range
- — – 64 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- Agglutination
- CPT
- 86156
- SNOMED
- 24920005
- Specimen volume
- 3-5 mL of whole blood yielding 1-2 mL serum
- Stability
- Serum should be separated from clotted blood immediately and stored at 2-8°C. Stable for 24 hours at refrigerated temperature; for longer storage, freeze at -20°C or below. Specimen must NOT be refrigerated as whole blood prior to serum separation.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What Is Measured in This Test?
Your blood sample is analyzed to determine your total cholesterol level and your HDL cholesterol level. The test then calculates the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, which is an important metric for evaluating cardiovascular risk.
Why Is This Test Important?
This ratio helps doctors identify whether your cholesterol levels are in a healthy range and whether you may need lifestyle changes or medical treatment to reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke.
How Is the Test Performed?
A small blood sample is drawn from a vein, usually in your arm. The sample is sent to a lab where it is processed to measure cholesterol components and calculate the ratio.
What Do the Results Mean?
While individual reference ranges vary by lab, a lower ratio (typically closer to 3 or below) often suggests better cardiovascular health. Your doctor will interpret results in the context of your overall health and medical history.
Reference range
Negative at 1:4 titer; normal individuals typically have cold agglutinin titers less than 1:64 at 4°CN/A
No special patient preparation required. Specimen should be drawn and kept warm (37°C) during transport to prevent in vitro cold agglutinin binding to red blood cells, which can cause falsely low titers or false-negative results.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Short name
Cholesterol Profile Ratio
Frequently asked questions
What causes a high cholesterol ratio?
How often should I get this test?
Can diet or exercise change my cholesterol ratio?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy