"283 Your doctor will diagnose high blood cholesterol by checking the cholesterol levels in your blood. A blood test called a lipoprotein panel can measure your cholesterol levels. Before the test, you’ll need to fast (not eat or drink anything but water) for 9 to 12 hours. The lipoprotein panel will give your doctor information about your: • Total cholesterol. Total cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including low - density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high - density lipop rotein (HDL) cholesterol. • LDL cholesterol. LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockages in the arteries. • HDL cholesterol. HDL, or “good,” cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from your arteries. • Triglycerides (tri - GLIH - seh - rides). Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Some studies suggest that a high level of triglycerides in the blood may raise the risk of coronary heart disease, especially in women. If it’s not possible to have a lipoprotein panel, know ing your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol can give you a general idea about your cholesterol levels. Testing for total and HDL cholesterol does not require fasting. If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more, or if your HDL cholesterol is less tha n 40 mg/dL, your doctor will likely recommend that you have a lipoprotein panel. (Cholesterol is measured as milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.) The tables below show total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels and their corresponding c ategories. See how your cholesterol numbers compare to the numbers in the tables below. Table 1. Cholesterol Levels Total Cholesterol Level Total Cholesterol Category Less than 200 mg/dL Desirable 200 – 239 mg/dL Borderline high 240 mg/dL and higher High LDL Cholesterol Level LDL Cholesterol Category Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal 100 – 129 mg/dL Near optimal/above optimal 130 – 159 mg/dL Borderline high"