Total cholesterol test
The sum of the different kinds of cholesterol. On its own it says little.
€3.93. You pay at the desk, not online.
- Preparation: Ideally fasting. Water is fine
- Prescription: Not needed
- Results: In the Rosa app, within 10 working days
- Also called: Colesterolo totale, CT, CHOL
Total cholesterol test: what it is for
Total cholesterol is the sum of all the cholesterol in your blood. It includes LDL, called bad cholesterol, HDL, called good cholesterol, and a share tied to triglycerides. That is why on its own it says little: two people with the same total can carry very different risks.
Why it is done
Total cholesterol is the first number in the blood fat test, and almost every lab report shows it. Following it over the years shows whether something is changing.
A very high number can point to inherited high cholesterol. It pays to find out early, because it often affects others in the family too.
How the total cholesterol test is done
It is a blood test, done at a Bianalisi lab without a prescription. You can add other tests to the same draw.
Questions about the total cholesterol test.
Do I need to fast for a total cholesterol test? For the total itself, no: a meal changes it very little. But it is measured together with triglycerides, which rise after a meal, so it is best to arrive fasted. You can drink water.
How much does the total cholesterol test cost? €3.93, from Bianalisi’s private list for Lombardy. You pay at the desk on the day of the draw, not online.
Do I need a prescription for the total cholesterol test? No. You book it here without a prescription and pay at the Bianalisi desk.
When do results arrive? Within 10 working days, in the Rosa app, with each value next to the lab’s interval. The report a doctor approves is in the Rosa membership.
