Quick answer
The Total Cholesterol Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care. Gives one number for all the cholesterol in your blood. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready the same day. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: Serum Cholesterol, S. Cholesterol, Blood Cholesterol, Cholesterol Only, T. Chol, TC
What is the Total Cholesterol Test?
The Total Cholesterol test gives one number: the combined amount of cholesterol in your blood, including LDL, HDL and the portion carried in VLDL particles. Your body needs cholesterol to build cells, hormones and vitamin D. The liver makes most of it, and the rest comes from animal foods such as ghee, butter, egg yolk and red meat. Too much over the years can narrow arteries with no warning symptoms.
The number has a clear limit, and understanding it will help you choose the right test. Because it adds everything together, it cannot tell you whether your cholesterol is mostly harmful LDL or protective HDL. Many Indians have a near normal total with low HDL and high triglycerides, a pattern this test would miss completely. A full Lipid Profile separates all of these and is usually taken after 10–12 hours of fasting, and it should be your choice for a first heart risk check or for decisions about treatment. This single test is useful as a quick non-fasting check, or when a doctor only wants a broad look at the trend between full profiles.
What it measures: The total amount of cholesterol carried in the blood, without separating LDL, HDL or triglycerides.
Parameters included (1)
- Total Cholesterol
Why is this test done?
- A quick non-fasting check between full lipid profiles
- Seeing a broad trend after diet and exercise changes
- Adding a basic cholesterol value to a routine blood test
- Looking for a cholesterol rise linked to an underactive thyroid or kidney protein loss
- Screening someone who cannot conveniently fast
When should you get tested?
- No symptoms at all, which is usual, so a routine check is the only way to know
- An adult with no cholesterol check in the last few years
- Family history of early heart attack
- Underactive thyroid, which can raise cholesterol
- Diabetes, high BP or smoking, where a full lipid profile is usually the better choice
How to prepare for the Total Cholesterol Test
- 1No fasting is needed, because a recent meal has little effect on total cholesterol.
- 2If your doctor also wants triglycerides or LDL, book the Lipid Profile and fast for 10–12 hours instead.
- 3Keep to your normal diet for a few days beforehand, so that the value reflects your usual pattern.
- 4Take statins or other cholesterol tablets as usual unless your doctor has told you something different.
- 5Tell your doctor about any recent serious illness or surgery, which can lower cholesterol for a while.
Total Cholesterol Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Desirable | Below 200 mg/dL |
| Borderline high | 200–239 mg/dL |
| High | 240 mg/dL and above |
Targets are lower for people with diabetes, heart disease or other risk factors, and they are usually set on LDL rather than on this total. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A value below 200 mg/dL is desirable but does not prove low heart risk, because low HDL or high LDL can hide inside a normal total.
- A value of 200–239 mg/dL calls for a full lipid profile, since a high HDL may be lifting the number harmlessly, or LDL may be the problem.
- At 240 mg/dL and above, your doctor will want a full profile and a risk review. Very high values from a young age, especially with early heart attacks in the family, can mean familial hypercholesterolaemia.
- Very low total cholesterol without treatment is unusual and can reflect an overactive thyroid, liver disease, poor nutrition or serious illness.
Total Cholesterol Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Total Cholesterol Test?
The Total Cholesterol Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
Is total cholesterol the same as a lipid profile?
No. Total cholesterol is one number within a lipid profile. The profile also reports LDL, HDL, VLDL, triglycerides and ratios, which show your actual risk far better. Choose the profile for a first heart check or if you have diabetes or high BP, and this test for a quick broad look.
Do I need to fast for a total cholesterol test?
No. Total cholesterol changes very little after a meal, so you can have this test at any time of day. Fasting matters for triglycerides, which rise after eating, and that is why a full lipid profile is usually done after 10–12 hours without food. Plain water is always fine.
Is a total cholesterol of 220 high?
It falls in the borderline high group of 200–239 mg/dL, but the number alone cannot say how risky it is. A high HDL can lift the total harmlessly, whereas high LDL matters more. A full lipid profile and your doctor’s review of your age, BP, sugar and smoking will give the answer.
Can a normal total cholesterol still mean heart risk?
Yes. A total under 200 mg/dL can hide low HDL, high LDL or high triglycerides, and this pattern is common in Indians. Diabetes, smoking, high BP and family history also add risk regardless of the total. If any of these apply, ask your doctor about a full lipid profile.
Does ghee raise cholesterol?
Ghee is rich in saturated fat, and large amounts can raise LDL and total cholesterol, though the effect varies between people. Limiting overall saturated fat from ghee, butter, coconut oil, palm oil and fried snacks generally helps. Your doctor or dietitian can advise a sensible amount, especially if your results are high.
How soon should I repeat the test after changing my diet?
Allow about three months for diet, weight and exercise changes to show properly in your result. Testing much sooner may not reflect the change. If you have started cholesterol tablets, your doctor will usually recheck a full lipid profile after around 4 to 12 weeks, because LDL is the main target.
Where can I get the Total Cholesterol Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.