Cholesterol

Serum or EDTA plasma or heparin plasma 0.5 ml
(a 12-hour fasting period is recommended for omnivores and carnivores)

Photometry

Reporting of results on the day the sample is received (Mon–Sat)

• Cholesterol is mainly synthesised in the liver and the mucosa of the small intestine. It serves as a starting substance for bile acids, steroid hormones and cell membrane components.
• Hypocholesterolaemia is caused by liver failure (reduced synthesis capacity), malabsorption or maldigestion, acute inflammatory responses, starvation or cachexia.
• Hypercholesterolaemia is caused by cholestasis and liver disease, endocrine disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome), obesity and lipid metabolism disorders or dietary factors (high-fat diet).