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The National Cholesterol Education Council (NCEC) recommends that people 20 years of age and older have a lipid profile every five years. Abnormal blood fat levels may not require immediate treatment. Patients with total cholesterol levels between 200 and 230 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), normal HDL levels and fewer than two coronary risk factors should be retested in one to two years. Additional lipoprotein testing should be immediately performed on patients who meet the following criteria:
- Normal total cholesterol and low HDL.
- Total cholesterol levels between 200 and 230 mg/dL, normal HDL levels and more than two coronary risk factors.
- Total cholesterol levels greater than 240 mg/dL.
All cholesterol measurements in this article are given in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Labs outside of the United States may use different units of measure for cholesterol levels. To convert a cholesterol level from milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) to international units (IU), multiply the mg/dL cholesterol level by 0.0259 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). For example, a cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL is equal to a cholesterol level of 5.18 IU. |