lipid panel

A lipid panel is a single blood test that gives a snapshot of the fats circulating in your bloodstream. It is one of the most common tools for estimating the long-term risk of clogged arteries and the heart attacks or strokes they can cause.

A standard panel reports several numbers: total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the kind that builds up in artery walls), HDL cholesterol (which helps remove cholesterol), and triglycerides (another type of blood fat). Some of these may be measured directly and others calculated, and together they paint a picture of a person's lipid balance.

The panel does not diagnose disease by itself; it feeds into broader risk assessment along with age, blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Results can be affected by recent meals, illness, and pregnancy, so timing and repeat testing matter. Many modern guidelines no longer require fasting for the panel to be useful.