Ask for the specific test
Ask whether Lp(a) was included in your blood work. It may be a separate measurement from a standard lipid panel.
Testing · Know what to ask
Finding your Lp(a) level starts with a question.
Lp(a) usually needs its own blood test. Here’s how to ask about testing, what the numbers mean, and an at-home option for adults.
Why test?
A regular cholesterol panel may not include Lp(a).
The 2026 U.S. dyslipidemia guideline recommends that adults have Lp(a) measured at least once in their lifetime. Because levels are mostly inherited and fairly stable, one test is often enough to establish a baseline. Your clinician can explain what’s right for you.
Share your family history
Mention high Lp(a), very high cholesterol, or heart disease at a young age in close relatives.
Review the result together
A clinician can interpret your result with your age, family history, and other health factors.
What the numbers mean
Read the units. Ask what they mean for you.
50 mg/dL
or 125 nmol/LCommon U.S. risk-enhancing thresholds
or 125 nmol/LCommon U.S. risk-enhancing thresholds
These are commonly used levels at which Lp(a) may add to cardiovascular risk. The lab may report mg/dL or nmol/L. They measure Lp(a) differently, so don’t convert them using one fixed formula.
A number is one clue, not a prediction. A healthcare professional can explain how the result fits with the rest of your health picture.
Free at-home option for adults
A screening kit from the Family Heart Foundation.
The Foundation’s Cholesterol Connect program currently offers a free, one-time finger-stick screening for a limited time.
Cholesterol Connect
Check Lp(a) and a full lipid panel from home.
The screening includes Lp(a), LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Family Heart Foundation Care Navigators are available to help you understand the results and prepare questions for a clinician.
Eligibility: U.S. residents age 18 or older. Not available in New York or Puerto Rico. This program is for adults only. If you’re under 18, talk with a parent or guardian and ask your pediatrician whether testing is appropriate.
Check eligibility and request a kit ↗Availability and program details can change. Check the Foundation’s page before ordering. This screening does not replace care from a healthcare professional.
For young people
Young people can ask. Adults and clinicians can guide.
Testing decisions for anyone under 18 depend on age, family history, and clinical guidance. The adult at-home kit above is not for minors. Share what you’ve learned with a parent or guardian, then bring questions to a pediatrician.
See conversation starters →Try asking: “Could we ask our doctor whether Lp(a) testing makes sense for our family?”