# LDL cholesterol blood test

Biomarker · id `cardio:ldl-cholesterol` · Cardiovascular Atlas · release `5dcd9b263fe17744` (public)

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Also called: LDL; LDL-C; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Browse, organ or system: Metabolism  
Browse, condition area: Coronary and vascular disease  

## In plain language

A blood test that measures the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. How often you should have the test depends on your age, risk factors and family history.

## Technical summary

MedlinePlus says a blood test measures cholesterol levels including LDL and that the timing depends on age, risk factors and family history. In the lipid trials in this atlas LDL cholesterol is the measured effect of the medicine, for example in mg/dL or mmol/L at 48 weeks in FOURIER.

## Connected pages

- The test that defines it: High LDL cholesterol (`cardio:high-ldl-cholesterol`)
- Related to: MedlinePlus (`core:medlineplus`)
- Investigated in: FOURIER (evolocumab in people with cardiovascular disease) (`cardio:fourier`)

## Provenance

Content hash: c33834391b50f1c025ceb8c7629936667e60003659d3ce445ca92965799549f6
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-14
Evidence last checked: 2026-10-14