Cholesterol test

Alternative names:

total cholesterol

What the risks are:

• excessive bleeding
• fainting or feeling lightheaded
• hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Pregnancy is usually associated with elevated cholesterol.

Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) may increase cholesterol levels.

Drugs that may increase cholesterol measurements include ACTH, anabolic steroids, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, corticosteroids, epinephrine, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics, and vitamin D.

Drugs that may decrease cholesterol measurements include allopurinol, androgens, captopril, chlorpropamide, clofibrate, colchicine, colestipol, erythromycin, isoniazid, lovastatin, MAO inhibitors, neomycin, niacin, and nitrates.

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.