A complete cholesterol test — also called a lipid panel or lipid profile — is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

A triglycerides test measures the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your body. If you eat more calories than you need, the extra calories are changed into triglycerides. These triglycerides are stored in your fat cells for later use. When your body needs energy, triglycerides are released into your bloodstream to provide fuel for your muscles to work. If you eat more calories than you burn off, especially calories from carbohydrates and fats, you may get high triglyceride levels in your blood. High triglycerides may put you at greater risk for a heart attack or stroke.

A high-density lipoprotein (HDL) test measures the level of good cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s found in all of the cells in your body. It has several different functions, including helping to build your body’s cells. Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream attached to proteins called lipoproteins.

LDL tests are a form of blood test that doctors use to measure the amount of LDL cholesterol in a persons bloodstream. LDL tests can be part of a lipid panel test, or they can measure LDL levels directly. Lipid panels can help doctors calculate LDL cholesterol levels by measuring the following: total cholesterol.