🩺 Affordable Private Healthcare

Cholesterol Tests

Price
£59

Turnaround

4 -12 hours

Appointment

15 minutes

blood vial for cholesterol testing

Find Out More

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Care Quality Commission
Primary Care & Diagnostics Finalist Award

pound iconPrice: £59

Turnaround: 4 -12 hours

Appointment: 15 minutes

Cholesterol Testing

A cholesterol test is a very simple blood test performed within a matter of minutes, yet it remains incredibly important. If high levels of cholesterol are left untreated, they could lead to the development of heart disease or a stroke.

Most traditional cholesterol tests only provide your total cholesterol level, which is not the most useful indicator of whether you are at risk of developing certain cholesterol-related conditions. That is why we provide our patients with a full cholesterol breakdown to help prevent and manage any health concerns we may find.

 

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in every cell of your body. Contrary to popular belief, not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, it plays a crucial role in your health by keeping your cell membranes flexible and strong, helping your skin produce vitamin D when you are in the sun, and assisting your liver in making bile, which is needed to digest and absorb fats from your food. The problem arises when you have too much “bad” cholesterol, a condition known as hypercholesterolemia. That is when it become dangerous.

How Cholesterol Tests Work

A cholesterol blood test is typically designed to measures the amount of cholesterol in your blood. At Walk-in Clinic, we provide a comprehensive cholesterol profile, which is a good indicator of whether your cholesterol levels need adjustment through diet and exercise or require medication.

To sum it up, your total cholesterol is made up of LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). A high level of LDL cholesterol directly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases. A high level of HDL cholesterol, however, helps protect you against heart disease.

The third element that we test for is triglycerides. Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fats exist in your body and are used for energy and for other body functions. However, a high level of triglycerides can also contribute to life-threatening diseases like heart disease and stroke. All the more important to know where your cholesterol and triglycerides levels are at.

Woman doctor smiling
Woman doctor taking notes

5 Signs Of High Cholesterol

For most people, there are no signs or symptoms for many years when they have high cholesterol. This is why testing is so important. However, if you experience chest pain or angina, yellowish patches forming on your skin (especially around the eyes), suffer from fatigue or feeling tired easily, struggle with shortness of breath, and have frequent headaches, you may have high cholesterol and need to be tested.

Other signs may include difficulty in digesting fatty foods, numbness in your fingers and toes, memory loss or cognitive decline, and even suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Main Causes Of High Cholesterol

High levels of cholesterol can be attributed to the following factors:

  • Your family history: Some individuals inherit a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol, known as familial hypercholesterolemia, which can lead to elevated levels regardless of diet.
  • Your diet: Consuming foods high in saturated and trans fats, such as fried foods, red meat, full-fat dairy products, and baked goods, can raise your cholesterol levels.
  • Lack of exercise: Regular physical activity helps lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and raise “good” HDL cholesterol. Therefore, by not getting enough exercise you are increasing your risk of developing high cholesterol.
  • Your lifestyle: Bad habits such as smoking and excessive drinking can significantly spike your cholesterol and lead to severe health conditions.

Statistics​

Of people in the UK have high or borderline high levels of LDL cholesterol
0 %
Of adults in the UK have obesity
0 %
Of Adults have high pressure in the UK
0 %
People live with coronary heart disease in the UK
0 Mill

How To Get A Cholesterol Test

book online or call us

Use our online booking engine or book your test by giving us a call.

Choose your test type

On the online booking engine select the “appointment type” you need.

meet with our experts

You will be seen by one of our friendly phlebotomists or trained clinicians.

Procedure

Type of sample taken: Blood
preparing for appointment

Preparing for test

Your doctor may advise you to undergo a period of fasting the night before. Usually patients are expected to fast for anything between 9 to 12 hours before the test. However, feel free to drink water as usual to stay hydrated.

Always inform your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking, as certain medications can affect your cholesterol levels. Your doctor will advise you on which medications to continue taking or to stop before your test accordingly.

during the appointment

During the test

There is nothing to fear, as a cholesterol test involves a regular blood test where a sample of your blood will be drawn, usually from a vein in your arm. A healthcare professional will clean the site with an antiseptic and insert a needle to collect the sample.

You may feel a slight pinch or sting when the needle is inserted, but discomfort is usually minimal and brief. The blood draw itself typically takes just a few minutes.

post appointment

Results

As soon as we receive your cholesterol results, we will send them to you via email. If you had a consultation with one of our Walk-In Clinic GPs, your Walk-In Clinic doctor will give you a call first to discuss your results and necessary follow-up procedures.

If you had a cholesterol test done without a consultation, you are welcome to take your results for interpretation to your own doctor or to book a consultation with us to discuss.

Why Choose Walk In Clinic
for blood testing

No
Hidden Charges

Transparent fees. The price you see is the price you pay.

No GP consultation
needed

No GP appointment requirement for blood tests

Established
since 1998

Experienced doctors & a professional team.

Strictly
confidential

Your medical records are kept private at all times.

testimonials​

Blood Test Biomarkers

pricing

Cholesterol profile

  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • HDL Cholesterol
  • LDL Cholesterol
  • Non-HDL Cholesterol

see other blood tests

Book Your Blood Test Today

We offer a wide range of private blood tests in London. Same-day appointments are available 5 days a week.

Specialist Medical Team

We work with experienced consultants & healthcare professionals who have received positive feedback from our patients, and with whom we have established long-term relationships.

fAQ

How often should I get my cholesterol checked?
For most adults, cholesterol screening is recommended every 4 to 6 years if initial levels are normal and there are no risk factors for heart disease. However, people with higher risk factors may need more frequent testing. Your healthcare provider will advise you on how often to repeat the test based on your personal health profile and treatment plan.
What factors can affect the accuracy of a cholesterol test?
Eating fatty foods before your test can temporarily raise your triglycerides. Drinking alcohol, being sick, feeling stressed, taking certain medicines, and even exercising right before the test can also change your cholesterol levels. Not fasting properly or mistakes at the lab can lead to wrong results too. To get the most accurate results, follow any instructions you are given and let your doctor know about any medications or supplements you are taking.
What is the difference between good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol?
HDL, known as “good cholesterol”, supports the liver’s filtration and cleansing of cholesterol. LDL (“bad cholesterol”) just circulates cholesterol. Thus, HDL is actually a protector, whereas LDL can accumulate as plaque and clog arteries.
Can HDL cholesterol levels be too high, and what does it mean?
HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol because it helps clear out “bad” cholesterol from your blood, which protects your heart. Therefore, generally speaking, having higher HDL is a good thing. But extremely high levels are unusual and might be linked to certain health conditions or inherited traits. Doctors are still studying what very high HDL levels mean, but usually, they focus on keeping all your cholesterol levels in a healthy range.

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