Clinical Significance

   It is useful for Evaluation of cardiovascular risk.

Specimen

   Serum

Stability

   Refrigerated (preferred) : 7 days

   Frozen : 90 days

Reference Range

   < 200 mg/dL

Interpretation

   The National Lipid Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) have set the following guidelines for total cholesterol:

   Desirable : < 200 mg/dL

   Borderline High : 200 to 239 mg/dL

   High : > or =240 mg/dL

Limitation

   imine (NAPQI, a metabolite of acetaminophen), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and metamizole.