Labcorp OnDemand Comprehensive Heart Health Test

1. NMR LipoProfile

The gold standard for advanced lipid testing. Rather than just measuring cholesterol levels, the NMR LipoProfile measures the actual number of LDL particles (LDL-P) circulating in your blood.

Why this matters: Two people can have the same LDL cholesterol level but vastly different particle counts. More particles means more "delivery trucks" depositing cholesterol into your arterial walls, regardless of total cholesterol cargo.

The NMR also includes standard lipid panel components (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) plus insulin resistance scoring based on lipoprotein particle sizes.

2. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a)

Lp(a) is a genetic form of LDL cholesterol that significantly increases cardiovascular risk. Unlike regular LDL, your Lp(a) level is largely determined by genetics and doesn't respond much to diet or statins.

About 20% of the population has elevated Lp(a), making it one of the most common genetic risk factors for heart disease. Most standard lipid panels don't test for it.

Why test it: If you have elevated Lp(a), you may need more aggressive management of other risk factors. It's also a one-time test, since your levels stay relatively stable throughout life.

3. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)

ApoB is the protein found on all atherogenic (artery-clogging) lipoproteins, including LDL, VLDL, and Lp(a). Since each particle has exactly one ApoB molecule, measuring ApoB gives you a direct count of all the "bad" particles in your blood.

Many cardiologists now consider ApoB a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol alone. It's becoming a standard marker in longevity medicine.

Target levels: Peter Attia recommends an ApoB below 60 mg/dL for optimal cardiovascular protection, though the standard "normal" range goes higher.

4. Lp-PLA2 (PLAC Test)

Lp-PLA2 (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2) is an enzyme that indicates active inflammation inside your arteries. Unlike hs-CRP which measures general body inflammation, Lp-PLA2 is more specific to vascular inflammation.

Elevated Lp-PLA2 suggests that plaque in your arteries may be unstable and at higher risk of rupture, which is what causes heart attacks and strokes.

Note: This is one of the more specialized markers in the panel and is particularly useful if you already know you have some atherosclerosis.

5. GlycA

GlycA measures glycosylated acute-phase proteins and serves as a marker of chronic systemic inflammation. It's different from hs-CRP in that it's more stable (less affected by acute infections) and may better reflect long-term inflammatory burden.

GlycA has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. It's part of the NMR testing platform.

6. Diabetes Risk Index (DRI)

The DRI evaluates insulin resistance through analysis of lipoprotein particle sizes and branched-chain amino acids. It predicts your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

This is particularly useful because insulin resistance often develops years before blood sugar levels become abnormal. Catching it early gives you time to intervene with lifestyle changes.

7. hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)

hs-CRP is a well-established marker of systemic inflammation. Elevated levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, independent of cholesterol levels.

Unlike regular CRP tests used to detect acute infections, the high-sensitivity version can detect low-grade chronic inflammation associated with atherosclerosis.

Target: Below 1.0 mg/L is considered low risk, 1-3 mg/L is average risk, and above 3 mg/L is high risk.