A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

VLDL Cholesterol

Triglycerides and calculated VLDL cholesterol, from one draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
Fasting preferred
Fast 9 to 12 hours. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) is the main particle that carries triglycerides in your blood, along with some cholesterol. This test measures your triglycerides and calculates VLDL cholesterol from them. Over time, VLDL particles turn into LDL. Fasting for 9 to 12 hours is required.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults who want more detail on blood fats, often to follow high triglycerides, a past lipid result, or a family history of heart disease.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your results show your triglycerides and calculated VLDL cholesterol, which can help you and a healthcare provider read heart and metabolic risk with your other lipid results.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your blood. Your body stores extra calories as triglycerides and uses them for energy between meals. The level rises after eating, so a fasting sample is the usual way to read it. It is checked alongside cholesterol in heart-risk conversations.
Why it’s measured: A blood fat read with cholesterol, usually measured after fasting.
VLDL cholesterol (calculated)
VLDL is a lipoprotein that carries mostly triglycerides, along with some cholesterol, from your liver to the rest of your body. The lab calculates VLDL cholesterol from your fasting triglyceride result rather than measuring it directly, which is why fasting matters for this number.
Why it’s measured: Estimates cholesterol carried in triglyceride-rich particles.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. Fast 9 to 12 hours. Water is fine. Nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol are reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and compared with the lab’s reference range.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

VLDL is one part of heart risk, so review your results with a healthcare provider along with your cholesterol, HDL, and history.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

The lab measures triglycerides directly, then calculates VLDL cholesterol from that result, because VLDL particles are the main carriers of triglycerides in fasting blood. That is why the VLDL value depends on a triglyceride result drawn after a proper fast.

Triglycerides rise after a meal, and because VLDL is calculated from them, eating before the test would change both numbers. The lab asks for a fast of 9 to 12 hours before the draw. Water is fine. If you add other tests, follow the preparation shown for each one.

If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, ask your prescriber how to fast safely before your visit.

After VLDL particles release their triglycerides for the body to use, they become smaller particles and then LDL. LDL is a key factor in how plaque builds up in arteries, which is why VLDL is read as part of a heart risk check.

Because it is calculated from triglycerides, VLDL is an estimate rather than a direct measurement. It does not show your LDL, your HDL, or the health of your arteries. A healthcare provider reads it with your other lipid results and risk factors.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.