Heart and vessels
What is HDL cholesterol?
protective cholesterol
- Unit
- mmol/L
- Sample
- Serum
- Fasting
- No fasting needed
- Turnaround
- 2 days
HDL carries cholesterol away from blood vessels back to the liver. Higher HDL is linked to lower cardiovascular risk.
HDL is often called the good cholesterol. Exercise and healthy fats raise it, while smoking and inactivity lower it. HDL on its own is not enough - LDL and ApoB complete the risk picture.
What does low HDL cholesterol mean?
Low HDL is common with overweight, inactivity, smoking, and metabolic syndrome.
What does high HDL cholesterol mean?
Moderately high HDL is favourable. Very high values can be genetic and do not always confer extra protection.
Panels that measure HDL cholesterol
- Heart Test Base
- Health Check Base
- Liver Test
- Health Check Plus
- Heart Test Plus
- Heart Test Complete
- Blood Sugar Test Complete
- Health Check Complete
- Health Check Man
- Health Check Kvinna
Reading
More markers in the same area
- Total cholesterolyour overall cholesterol level
- LDL cholesterolthe main cholesterol risk factor
- Non-HDL cholesterolall of your non-protective cholesterol
- Triglyceridesblood fats tied to sugar and diet
- Apolipoprotein A1the protective protein in HDL
- Apolipoprotein Bthe number of harmful cholesterol particles
Launching in Stockholm in 2026.
Want to know when you can order?
This is general information about the marker, not an assessment of your values and not medical advice. Last updated: August 2026.