Cholesterol is a fatty substance present in most meaty foods and some vegetables. In normal amounts it is an important building block of bile acids, which help digestion, and steroid hormones. In the blood, cholesterol is found in particles containing both lipids (fats) and proteins, hence they are referred to as lipoproteins.

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is important for everyone: young, middle-aged, and older adults; women and men; and people with or without heart disease. Adults 20 years and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every 5 years. Those found to have elevated cholesterol requiring changes in diet or drug therapy, or who have been diagnosed with heart disease will require more frequent lipid profile testing, at least annually.

As one of the major risk factors for developing heart disease, your blood cholesterol level affects your chances of having a heart attack. It is important to find out what your cholesterol levels are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the chance of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease, even if you already have it.

The Home Access Instant Cholesterol Test can help you find out your cholesterol level quickly, simply, and conveniently in your home. Home Access has specialists ready to help you understand your personal risk for developing heart disease so you can take control of your personal health and well-being.

Screening your blood for total cholesterol acts as a general indicator of the risk of heart disease, but represents a group of several "lipids," good and bad. Generally, it is best to have a total cholesterol level less than 200 mg/dL, but if your value is greater, or if you have additional risk factors, you should have an additional blood test called a "lipid profile" to find out the rest of your cholesterol numbers.

No. Cholesterol is only one of many risk factors that may increase your chance of heart disease. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), a 'blue ribbon' committee of health professionals responsible for making recommendations for the detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults, established new guidelines in May 2001. These recommendations focus on identifying and managing parts of your life that increase your risk of heart disease, particularly lowering LDL Cholesterol in persons with multiple risk factors.

It is important to fast for the measurement of certain blood lipids, which are sensitive to the effects of recent dietary intake, particularly triglycerides and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein). The NIH recommendations contained in Adult Treatment Panel III ( ATP III ) state that "A lipoprotein profile involving measurement of triglycerides and the indirect calculation of LDL cholesterol (the common method) requires a 9- to 12-hour fast." These recommendations specifically exclude measurement of total cholesterol such as conducted with the Home Access Instant Cholesterol Test.

According to ATP III, the measurement of any lipid is preferably performed with the person in a baseline stable condition, that is, in the absence of acute illnesses including stroke, trauma, surgery, acute infection, weight loss, pregnancy, or recent change in usual diet. The effect of a 'big meal' is difficult to predict without knowing how it relates to the users normal dietary intake, but it would probably be prudent to avoid such a meal just prior to using the test.

The test performance has been reviewed by the FDA and is considered to be 97% accurate when compared to the clinical laboratory methods used by doctors and hospitals.

Cholesterol is only one risk factor that may lead to heart disease. The other major risk factors are listed below. Your doctor can help you to understand your risk for heart disease by taking into account these other factors along with your cholesterol: Cigarette smoking, High blood pressure, Early heart disease in a close relative (before age 55 in men & 65 in women), Age more than 45 for men or 55 for women, LDL and HDL cholesterols, Life habit risk factors (obesity, physical inactivity and fatty diet).

Often called "bad cholesterol," LDL is the main source of cholesterol build-up and blockage in the arteries.

Often called "good cholesterol," HDL helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries.

Triglycerides are another form of fat normally present in your blood.