Total cholesterol
What it measures, and what changes the number.
Total cholesterol measures all the cholesterol carried in the blood across every type of lipoprotein particle, including LDL, HDL and VLDL. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance the body uses to build cell membranes and some hormones.
It is almost always reported as part of a lipid panel with HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Several derived values, such as non-HDL cholesterol and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, are calculated directly from it, so the panel is usually read as a whole.
Total cholesterol changes little after a meal, so some labs measure it without fasting, although a fasting sample is still requested when triglycerides are part of the same panel. Recent illness and some medicines can affect it. Labs may report it as CHOLESTEROL, TOTAL, Colesterol or Colesterol total.
Often read alongside: HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Triglycerides, Non-HDL cholesterol, Atherogenic index (TC/HDL)