Biomarker Reference · HDL-C

What does the HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) test measure?

Q: What is the reference range for HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)?

The standard reference range for HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) is Low (cardiovascular risk): <40 mg/dL males, <50 mg/dL females; Average: 40–59 mg/dL; Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.55 mmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm LabCorp sex-specific HDL-C reference ranges and risk category thresholds — the ATP III threshold of <40 mg/dL (males) and <50 mg/dL (females) as low HDL-C is the most widely used clinical classification. Confirm whether LabCorp uses these thresholds or an alternative framework.. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform — interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Q: Which tests measure HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)?

HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) is measured in 1 test on BiomarkersLabs.com, including Lipid Panel (Total Cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, Non-HDL-C).

HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) (HDL-C) is a clinical biomarker used in cardiovascular assessment. HDL particles are the smallest and most dense circulating lipoprotein class, synthesised by the liver and intestine and remodelled extensively in the circulation. It is measured in 1 laboratory test on BiomarkersLabs.com.

Reference Range: Low (cardiovascular risk): <40 mg/dL males, <50 mg/dL females; Average: 40–59 mg/dL; Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.55 mmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm LabCorp sex-specific HDL-C reference ranges and risk category thresholds — the ATP III threshold of <40 mg/dL (males) and <50 mg/dL (females) as low HDL-C is the most widely used clinical classification. Confirm whether LabCorp uses these thresholds or an alternative framework.
Units: mg/dL, mmol/L
Measured In: 1 test
Category: Cardiovascular

Functional medicine optimal>60 mg/dL for all adults (conventional preventive threshold for low cardiovascular risk from low HDL-C); functional preventive cardiology practitioners often target >70 mg/dL in higher-risk patients. HDL-C above 80–90 mg/dL warrants clinical review for possible inherited HDL metabolism disorders or dysfunctional HDL syndrome. # REVIEWER FLAG: The >60 mg/dL 'protective' HDL-C threshold is based on epidemiological risk stratification; very high HDL-C paradox is an area of active clinical research — reviewer to confirm appropriate framing.

What is HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)?

HDL particles are the smallest and most dense circulating lipoprotein class, synthesised by the liver and intestine and remodelled extensively in the circulation. They mediate reverse cholesterol transport — accepting free cholesterol from peripheral tissues and arterial macrophage foam cells via the ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1, esterifying it via LCAT, and transferring it to the liver for excretion via CETP-mediated transfer to LDL and direct hepatic scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) uptake. HDL particles also exert direct anti-atherogenic effects through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endothelial protective mechanisms. HDL-C, however, measures only cholesterol mass within HDL particles — not HDL particle number or HDL functional capacity — and has shown less consistent therapeutic utility than LDL-C as a drug target, with HDL-raising drugs (niacin, CETP inhibitors) failing to reduce cardiovascular events despite raising HDL-C in clinical trials.

Why is HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) measured?

HDL-C is a negative cardiovascular risk factor — lower HDL-C values are associated with higher ASCVD risk in epidemiological data, and HDL-C below 40 mg/dL (males) or 50 mg/dL (females) constitutes a component of the metabolic syndrome definition. Within the lipid panel, HDL-C contributes to non-HDL-C calculation (TC − HDL-C) and total cholesterol:HDL ratio. In the context of dyslipidaemia characterisation, low HDL-C alongside elevated triglycerides and relatively preserved LDL-C is the characteristic atherogenic dyslipidaemia of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome — a pattern that confers ASCVD risk underestimated by LDL-C alone and is better captured by non-HDL-C and ApoB. Very high HDL-C (>80 mg/dL in males, >90 mg/dL in females) may paradoxically be associated with increased cardiovascular risk through dysfunctional HDL mechanisms — practitioners should interpret extreme HDL elevations clinically rather than assuming proportional cardiovascular protection.

Reference ranges

Standard reference: Low (cardiovascular risk): <40 mg/dL males, <50 mg/dL females; Average: 40–59 mg/dL; Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.55 mmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm LabCorp sex-specific HDL-C reference ranges and risk category thresholds — the ATP III threshold of <40 mg/dL (males) and <50 mg/dL (females) as low HDL-C is the most widely used clinical classification. Confirm whether LabCorp uses these thresholds or an alternative framework.
Functional medicine optimal: >60 mg/dL for all adults (conventional preventive threshold for low cardiovascular risk from low HDL-C); functional preventive cardiology practitioners often target >70 mg/dL in higher-risk patients. HDL-C above 80–90 mg/dL warrants clinical review for possible inherited HDL metabolism disorders or dysfunctional HDL syndrome. # REVIEWER FLAG: The >60 mg/dL 'protective' HDL-C threshold is based on epidemiological risk stratification; very high HDL-C paradox is an area of active clinical research — reviewer to confirm appropriate framing.
Units: mg/dL, mmol/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Tests that measure HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)

1 test on BiomarkersLabs.com include this biomarker.

BML-CAR-003Comprehensive

Lipid Panel (Total Cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, Non-HDL-C)

HDL Cholesterol (High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) reference range in this test: Low (cardiovascular risk): <40 mg/dL males, <50 mg/dL females; Average: 40–59 mg/dL; Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL (≥1.55 mmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm LabCorp sex-specific HDL-C reference ranges and risk category thresholds — the ATP III threshold of <40 mg/dL (males) and <50 mg/dL (females) as low HDL-C is the most widely used clinical classification. Confirm whether LabCorp uses these thresholds or an alternative framework.

Related clinical conditions

Related Biomarkers

Frequently measured alongside

Total CholesterolTC1 test LDL Cholesterol (Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)LDL-C1 test TriglyceridesTG1 test Non-HDL CholesterolNon-HDL-C1 test VLDL Cholesterol (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol)VLDL-C1 test

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