| Material | Serum or EDTA plasma or heparin plasma 0.5 ml
(a 12-hour fasting period is recommended for omnivores and carnivores) |
| Method | Photometry |
| Duration | Reporting of results on the day the sample is received (Mon–Fri) |
| Remark | - LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) are the most important carriers for transporting cholesterol in the blood.
- LDL transports cholesterol from the liver to the tissues (“transport out of the liver”).
- HDL takes cholesterol from the tissues and brings it back to the liver (“reverse cholesterol transport”).
- The LDL to HDL ratio reflects the balance between cholesterol release and uptake and can indicate lipid metabolism disorders.
- In dogs and cats, measurement of LDL and HDL is not routinely carried out, but can be diagnostically helpful in case of lipid metabolism disorders, endocrine diseases or hepatic dysfunction. In dogs, an increase in LDL and total cholesterol is common with hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s syndrome).
- In cattle and horses, HDL is physiologically predominant, while LDL accounts for only a small proportion of total cholesterol.
- HDL and LDL can be requested separately on the submission form.
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