Test Detail

Cholesterol, LDL-Direct

A Direct LDL Cholesterol test directly measures low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood. LDL is known as "bad" cholesterol because it can accumulate in artery walls, forming plaque that leads to hardened and narrowed arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. This direct test provides a more accurate LDL measurement than the Friedewald formula (a calculated estimate) in certain situations, such as high triglyceride levels.