Knowing what your cholesterol levels are, particularly your HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations, is critical for helping you understand your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Poor cholesterol levels make you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Home cholesterol testing kits can measure the concentrations of these forms of cholesterol, but the tests can vary in accuracy and may be hard to interpret.
Importance of LDL and HDL
Many home cholesterol tests only measure total cholesterol levels, the American Heart Association notes. While your total cholesterol levels are important, the levels of your low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as your LDL and HDL levels, are also critical. High levels of LDL cholesterol, which is anything above 160 mg per dL of blood, increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Conversely, low levels of HDL cholesterol, which are concentrations below 50 mg per dL for women and 40 mg per dL for men also increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
How Home Cholesterol Tests Work
All cholesterol tests require a blood sample. For home cholesterol tests, you use a lancet on a finger to get a drop of blood, the Food and Drug Administration explains. You then place this drop of blood on a piece of paper which is coated with chemicals that react with the cholesterol in your blood to tell you your cholesterol levels. Some tests require a special machine to measure the levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol.
Accuracy
One of the biggest problems with home cholesterol testing kits is that they vary in accuracy. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the accuracy of different brands of testing kits is printed on the kit's packaging. If you do not fast for several hours before the test, your measurement will not be as accurate, MayoClinic.com reports. If you do not accurately follow the testing instructions, your results may also be inaccurate. If you squeeze or "milk" your finger to get more blood, this may also change your cholesterol levels, the Harvard School of Public Health explains.
Interpretation
In addition to the risk of getting inaccurate results, home cholesterol testing has a significant disadvantage to having your cholesterol levels measured by a doctor because you do not have a trained professional to help you interpret your results. Although most kits provide a guide to cholesterol levels based on current national guidelines, health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes can affect your "target" cholesterol levels, the Harvard School of Public Health notes. It is important to talk to a doctor to determine what your LDL and HDL levels should be.
