What is Lipid Profile and liver function test?

The primary distinction between a lipid profile and a liver function test is that one measures problems in lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides using a blood test, whilst the other measures the liver’s general health using a blood test.

Blood tests come in two varieties: lipid profiles and liver function tests. In liver illnesses like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, there is a significant link between lipid profile, liver function tests, and fibroscan. For patients with suspected liver issues, doctors frequently advise combining the results of the lipid profile with liver function tests.

Lipid Profile Test: What is it?

A blood test called a lipid profile is used to detect changes in lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides. This examination assists in identifying the potential for the development of fatty deposits in the arteries known as plaques. Atherosclerosis is a condition brought on by these fatty deposits, which frequently produce blocked or constricted arteries throughout the body.

Liver Function Test: What Is It?

A blood test called a liver function test or LFT test is used to assess a patient’s liver’s general health. It gauges how well the liver carries out its typical tasks of creating proteins (enzymes) and getting rid of bilirubin (a waste product). Additionally, it evaluates the enzymes the liver cells produce in reaction to injury or illness.

What do lipid profiles and liver function tests have in common?

• When it comes to liver illnesses like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, there is a significant association between the lipid profile test and the liver function test.
• For patients with suspected liver issues, clinicians frequently advise lipid profile and liver function testing in tandem.
• Both tests assess the blood’s levels of biomolecules.
• Both tests are quite affordable methods.
• They are carried out by trained technicians in designated laboratories.

What distinguishes a liver function test from a lipid profile?

A liver function test measures the general health of the patient’s liver, whereas a lipid profile test looks for abnormalities in lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides in blood samples from patients. Additionally, although a liver function test is primarily used to identify liver conditions like cirrhosis, viral or alcoholic hepatitis, and drug-induced liver damage, a lipid profile test is mostly used to identify cardiovascular disorders.

Why do I require a blood test for a lipid panel?

 Lipid panels are frequently used by healthcare professionals as screening and monitoring tools.

Your doctor may advise routine screening with a lipid panel if you have one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors in an effort to detect high cholesterol levels before you have any symptoms.

What are typical results from a lipid panel?

The ideal values for each of the four common tests in a lipid panel (calculated in milligrammes per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL) are as follows:

• Under 200 mg/dL for total cholesterol.
• Over 60 mg/dL for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL (less than 70 mg/dL for those with diabetes).
• Below 150 mg/dL for triglycerides.

Your results may be categorised as high-risk, borderline-, or intermediate- for cardiovascular problems depending on whether they fall within or outside of the target range.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease can generally be increased by having levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL that are greater than normal and lower than normal for HDL.

Abnormally low cholesterol levels are uncommon. If you do, it’s typically because of a medical issue that is contributing to malnutrition.

If my lipid panel test results are abnormal, should I be worried?

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition or need treatment if your lipid results show that you have high levels of LDL, total cholesterol, and/or triglycerides and/or low HDL levels.

Numerous things may affect your cholesterol range. The following elements will be taken into account by your healthcare professional when interpreting the findings of your lipid panel:

• Your age
• Your general well-being
• Your medical background
• current drug regimen

You may also possess additional cardiovascular disease risk factors.

To evaluate whether you require additional testing or treatment, many clinicians utilise a unique risk calculator that takes these factors into account. Do not be afraid to ask your physician any questions you may have regarding your results.

Who administers a blood test for a lipid panel?

Blood draws, including those for a lipid panel, are often carried out by a healthcare professional known as a phlebotomist, though any healthcare professional who has received training in blood drawing can carry out this task. The samples are subsequently delivered by the provider to a lab, where a medical laboratory scientist processes them and does the necessary tests on analyzers.

When should I expect the results of my lipid panel?

It usually takes 1 to 2 business days to receive your lipid panel results, but it may take longer.

When should I make an appointment with my doctor?

Inform your healthcare practitioner if you experience any changes in your cardiovascular disease risk factors. You could be required to go through a lipid panel or more frequent lipid panel screening.