home cholesterol tests

[locomo]

hi,

i'm curious what the consensus is about home cholesterol tests (http://cholesteroltestkits.com)? If you are monitoring your cholesterol levels are these home test kits a reasonable alternative to making frequent trips into a doctor?

thanks!

[Gabriel Guzman]

The only useful information that one could take from the strips test is HDL and triglycerides as Total and LDL-cholesterol are meaningless. Total cholesterol does not mean much unless we have an accurate measurement of LDL and since the LDL value from the strips is calculated, rather than directly measured, then the information is of little value as well. Even if the LDL values were directly measured, the information would not mean much unless we know what type of LDL particles are being detected.

Also, we would not be measuring cholesterol, say, every week but more in the range of every 5-6 weeks. Any idea on how expensive these strips are? Just curious.

[davea42]

I've been looking at the CardioChek home unit. Aside from the inconsistent user feedback it looks like it returns all the necessary information.
I just checked my last two Dr. Office fasting cholesterol results, and the LDL is exactly Total - HDL - Trig/5. Maybe they're using the same methodology?

[Adriana]

hi,

i'm curious what the consensus is about home cholesterol tests (http://cholesteroltestkits.com)? If you are monitoring your cholesterol levels are these home test kits a reasonable alternative to making frequent trips into a doctor?

thanks!

I found a great use for the home cholesterol test. I now know what my TC numbers are going to be BEFORE having them done at the doctor's office.

If they were still high after a couple of months of LC I was going to hold off going in for a re-test. However, since I have seen excellent results in 2 months (TC down 80 points) I am going in for the re-test plus an NMR Lipoprofile.

NOW I can have that talk with my doctor about why I don't need statins...maybe we'll also discuss how meaningless TC and LDL numbers are as well. It's going to be fun having the numbers on my side!