What is this test?
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is an LDL-like particle associated with inherited cardiovascular and aortic-valve risk. Its level is determined largely by genetics and is usually relatively stable.
Why might it be ordered?
- For inherited cardiovascular risk assessment, especially with premature disease or a strong family history.
- To refine risk when conventional factors do not fully explain cardiovascular disease.
What sample is needed?
A blood sample is required. The laboratory chooses the correct tube and handles the sample for this test.
How should you prepare?
Fasting is usually not essential unless other lipids are ordered at the same time. Testing is often needed once rather than repeatedly; follow-up depends on the clinical plan.
How should you understand the result?
The laboratory may report mass or particle concentration, so thresholds are method- and unit-dependent. A high value is not a measure of recent diet and is not usually used to monitor short-term lifestyle change.
Sources and editorial status
This patient-facing text is an editorial draft. It should be approved by a laboratory physician before official publication.
- Laboratory Tests — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- How to Prepare for a Lab Test — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- How to Understand Your Lab Results — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Lipoprotein (a): A Genetically Determined Risk Factor — American Heart Association