Total cholesterol test
What the risks are
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks, although rare, may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Special considerations
Any acute illness can raise or lower your total cholesterol number. If you have had an acute illness in the 3 months before having this test, you should have this test repeated in 2 or 3 months. Even a flare-up of arthritis can affect your cholesterol level.
Other conditions associated with high cholesterol include:
- Pregnancy
- Removal of the ovaries
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