Lab test · Cardiology
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)
Bad cholesterol particles, heart risk
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 3 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Bad cholesterol particles, heart risk
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is the main protein on the particles that carry 'bad' cholesterol, including LDL. Each of these particles carries one ApoB molecule, so the test gives a count of the particles that can enter artery walls and cause narrowing. Some doctors use it alongside or instead of LDL cholesterol to assess heart risk more precisely.
Why a doctor may order it
- When triglycerides are high, which can make LDL cholesterol less reliable
- For people with diabetes, excess weight or metabolic syndrome
- When there is a family history of early heart disease
- To check how well cholesterol treatment is working in some people
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
ApoB does not need fasting, so you can eat and drink as normal. Carry on with your regular medicines, including any cholesterol treatment, unless your doctor advises a change.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector who visits you draws a small blood sample from a vein in your arm, which takes only a few minutes. ApoB can be measured on the same sample as a lipid profile if both are booked.
- Report
- Within 3 days of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report gives your ApoB level next to the laboratory's reference value. A higher ApoB means more cholesterol-carrying particles in the blood and a higher risk of heart disease, even if LDL cholesterol looks acceptable. A lower level suggests fewer of these particles. Your doctor will interpret the result together with your lipid profile and other heart risk factors.
What's included
One test: Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Lipid ProfileA lipid profile measures the fats in your blood: total cholesterol, LDL ('bad') cholesterol, HDL ('good') cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- LDL CholesterolLDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is often called 'bad' cholesterol.
- Triglycerides (TG)Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the blood.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between ApoB and LDL cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol measures how much cholesterol is carried in LDL particles. ApoB counts the number of these particles. The two usually agree, but when they do not, ApoB may reflect heart risk more accurately.
Who might benefit from an ApoB test?
People with high triglycerides, diabetes, excess weight or a strong family history of heart disease, in whom a standard lipid profile may not tell the full story.
Do I need to fast before an ApoB test?
No. ApoB is hardly affected by a recent meal, so you can eat normally before the test.
How much does a ApoB test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳2,070, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the ApoB test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the ApoB report take?
The report is usually ready within 3 days of the sample being collected.