Total cholesterol blood test
Quick answer: This test measures the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It is part of a heart health check and is usually done with HDL, LDL and triglycerides as a lipid profile.
- SampleBlood
- TakesAbout 5 minutes
- Before the testFasting is not always needed for total cholesterol alone, but follow your doctor's advice if it is part of a lipid profile.
How the test is done
- 1You may be asked to fast if other lipid tests are done at the same time
- 2The inside of your elbow is cleaned
- 3A needle draws blood into a tube
- 4The lab measures total cholesterol, often with HDL, LDL and triglycerides
What your results can mean
Reading your report
Normal ranges differ between labs and by age and sex, so discuss your result with your doctor.
If the result is outside the usual range
A high level can be seen with an unhealthy diet, inactivity, family tendency, an underactive thyroid, diabetes or kidney disease. A low level can be seen with an overactive thyroid, liver disease or poor nutrition.
Who usually has this test
Adults having heart health checks, people with diabetes or high blood pressure, and people with a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease.
Risks and aftercare
There is nothing special to do after the test; a small bruise may appear.
Names and options
Also called: cholesterol, serum cholesterol
Listed by the hospital as
- CHOLESTEROL (TOTAL), SERUM
Questions about this test
Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Total cholesterol changes little after a meal, but triglycerides do. If a full lipid profile is done, your doctor may ask you to fast.
Is total cholesterol enough to judge heart risk?
No. Doctors look at HDL, LDL, triglycerides and other factors such as blood pressure, smoking and diabetes.
Can young adults have high cholesterol?
Yes. Some families have an inherited tendency to high cholesterol, which can start in childhood.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
Get directions ↗IVF Pulse fertility care at Tamara Hospital →
Reception
Waiting area
IVF lab
This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.