LDL Particle Number (LDL-P)
Heart & circulation markersWhat the test generally measures, and what to ask about it.
Longetic keeps every lab and record you’ve had organized and easy to find, so your own LDL Particle Number (LDL-P) values sit together on one chart and you walk into your next appointment prepared.
What is LDL Particle Number (LDL-P)?
An advanced blood test that counts how many LDL (bad cholesterol) particles are circulating in your blood, rather than just measuring the cholesterol they carry.
Standard cholesterol tests measure the amount of cholesterol packed inside LDL particles, while LDL particle number counts the particles themselves, usually using a lab method called NMR. Because it is possible to have a normal cholesterol number but a high particle count, some clinicians use LDL-P to look more closely at heart-related risk. A higher particle number can be associated with a greater likelihood of cardiovascular events over time, though it is one piece of a bigger picture and is an advanced, extended test rather than a routine screen.
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References
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