Cholesterol Measurement

Variability in Methods and Test Results Gao ID: T-PEMD-95-17 February 14, 1995

Knowing the amount of cholesterol in the blood is important to good health, but GAO found that it was hard to learn the correct level from a single test. Given the wide range of instruments used to test cholesterol and day-to-day variations in diet, exercise, and illness, GAO believes that persons should consider being tested several times to determine cholesterol levels. Doctors and patients need to be aware of fluctuations in cholesterol measurements and that any decision to classify and treat a patient should be based on the average of multiple measurements and an assessment of other risk factors.



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