It is advantageous to order LDL Direct when triglycerides are significantly elevated (above 400 mg/dL) or when another condition affects the accuracy of calculated LDL-C.
The calculation for LDL-C is: total cholesterol minus HDL-C minus (triglycerides divided by 5).
When triglyceride levels are normal, calculated LDL-C is similar to direct LDL-C. However, when triglyceride levels are elevated, LDL-C is less accurate.
