A coronary risk profile is a group of blood tests used to measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The profile can help determine your risk for heart disease.

Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, and other problems.

Some types of cholesterol are considered "good" and some are considered "bad." Different blood tests are needed to measure each type of cholesterol.

Lipoprotein/cholesterol analysis; Lipid profile; Lipid panel; Hyperlipidemia - testing; Coronary risk profile

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.

Your doctor may order only a cholesterol level as the first test, which will measure cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. You may not need more cholesterol tests if your cholesterol is in the normal range.

You may also have a lipid (or coronary risk) profile, which includes:

• Low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol)
• High density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol)
• Total cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL cholesterol, though this is often calculated from the triglyceride level)

People who also have high triglyceride levels may get a test called a direct LDL cholesterol (direct LDL-C).

Other blood tests, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), may be added to the profile in some laboratories.

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Review Date: 05/20/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)