What are your favorite at-home test kits which provide a basic lipid profile (Total, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides)?

April 1, 2009 11:53 AM

What are your favorite at-home test kits which provide basic lipid profiles (Total, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides)?

Asking for a friend, who received a double whammy: the day after her doctor told her that she has rather high triglycerides, her father dropped dead of a heart attack. She's understandably rather interested in keeping an eye on things. Towards that end, she's looking for a home kit where she can draw her own blood (usually just a drop or two) and get semi-accurate results for something a little more than just a total cholesterol number. HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are needed, too.

At-home kits with test strips (which we will need refills for) are preferred over send-it-in kits, but either are alright. Obviously, these results will be calibrated against occasional visits to the doctor.

Of course, we are doing research on the various methods of controlling these things, and obviously there is a very large genetic component to these numbers (her vegan sister has cholesterol issues, as well), but the ability track the results of her efforts will provide some positive feedback, as well as a reassuring (whether real or not) feel of control over the process.

What's your favorite, and why? Have you had more accurate results with one brand over another?

Yeah, eponysterical once removed.

posted by adipocere to health & fitness (7 answers total)

Here's Mayo Clinic's take on the home kits--it doesn't think they're a good idea.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:00 PM on April 1, 2009

Yeah, I read that already. Obviously, the Mayo Clinic wouldn't think that anything you do at home is a good idea; they have a somewhat vested interest.

The question is not "should she or shouldn't she?" but rather which.
posted by adipocere at 12:15 PM on April 1, 2009

Obviously, the Mayo Clinic wouldn't think that anything you do at home is a good idea; they have a somewhat vested interest.

They're not making the big bucks off of your routine blood work.
posted by Caviar at 3:05 PM on April 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Not a direct answer but we just tried www.prepaidlab.com and liked the price and service.
The clinic at CVS also offers a lipid test (watch for their discount coupons).
posted by Fins at 3:42 PM on April 1, 2009

IIRC when we did Cholesterol tests at nursing school, we were warned that our rapid reader's test strips cost five bucks a piece (so we shouldn't waste them). Obviously we got them wholesale, so that price could be double (or more) for an individual. I have no clue what the reader costs, but guessing based on our glucometers -aka blood sugar testers- an accurate one would be costly.

Cholesterol doesn't change incredibly quickly. Testing it every week will not make your friend any more aware of her health status. She should see what her doctor recommends for frequency and stick to that, or ask her doctor if she can come in for more frequent tests to ease her mind.

If the home test is not accurate, she may become anxious regarding high levels or overly blase about low ones. Lowering your cholesterol level is not something that you need to check frequently and change your intake accordingly. It is a lifestyle change that can only be accomplished by cutting down (all the time) on high cholesterol foods.

If she is serious about her health, a home blood pressure monitor and a good scale for daily weights would be more appropriate. Super frequent cholesterol monitoring will not cut down her risk of cardiac events.
posted by nursegracer at 5:46 PM on April 1, 2009

It is a lifestyle change that can only be accomplished by cutting down (all the time) on high cholesterol foods.

This is really not the right advice, by the way. I dropped my LDL and Triglycerides by around 30 points each by getting more exercise, dropping 20 pounds, cutting out HFCS as much as possible, and eating a salad for lunch 5 days a week (which, incidentally, almost always includes a hard cooked egg).

But that's not an answer to the question you asked. I agree with the thought that frequent testing isn't necessary or helpful, and to add to that - remember that you need to fast for 12 hours prior to the test to get an accurate result.
posted by Caviar at 5:59 PM on April 1, 2009

This is a pretty much in-the-box question; it doesn't need any meta-analysis. Answers include product numbers, brand names, etc. If you don't have those, just walk on by.
posted by adipocere at 6:18 PM on April 1, 2009