Cholesterol, Total

CPT: 82465

Expected Turnaround Time

24 Hours

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Serum, Plasma

Volume

5 ml

Minimum Volume

4 ul

Container

SST (Serum), Red Top (Separate Serum), Lithium Heparin (Plasma)

Storage Instructions

Room Temp., Refrigerated (2-8 C)

Stability Requirements

Room temp. 7 days, Refrigerated 7 days

Causes for Rejection

Mislabeled specimen, grossly hemolyzed specimen, sample collected expired tubes, clotted specimen

Test Details

Use

This test is use in the quantitative determination of cholesterol in human serum and plasma (lithium heparin). Such measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders involving excess cholesterol in the blood and in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism disorders.

Methodology

Enzymatic

Reference Interval

< 200 mg/dL

Additional Information

Total cholesterol is a key lipid parameter used in cardiovascular risk assessment and monitoring. It reflects the combined amount of cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles in the blood. Total cholesterol is used in conjunction with HDL, LDL, and triglycerides to calculate lipid profiles and inform decisions regarding statin therapy and lifestyle intervention. Elevated levels are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), whereas very low levels may indicate malnutrition, liver dysfunction, or hyperthyroidism.

References:

  • Stone, N. J., Robinson, J. G., Lichtenstein, A. H., et al. (2014). 2013 ACC/AHA guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in adults. Circulation, 129(25 Suppl 2), S1–S45. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000437738.63853.7a

  • Grundy, S. M., Stone, N. J., Bailey, A. L., et al. (2018). 2018 AHA/ACC guideline on the management of blood cholesterol. Circulation, 139(25), e1082–e1143. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625

Footnotes

Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.

Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.

CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.

Questions?

For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.