The 7 Best Cholesterol Test Kits of 2021

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First Look

Best Overall: CardioChek Analyzer Cholesterol Kit at Amazon

"A simple, cost-effective, and accurate blood cholesterol monitoring system."

Most User-Friendly: Curo L5 Blood Cholesterol Test Kit at Amazon

"An intuitively designed meter paired with smart test strips, making for quick and effective testing."

Most Comprehensive Home Kit: LipidoCare Cholesterol Test Kit at Amazon

"Analyzes your full blood lipid panel with just one sample on one test strip."

Best Budget Test: SELFCheck Cholesterol Test Kit at vivomed.com

"Accurately reports your total cholesterol in a matter of 3 minutes for less than $20."

Best Online Integration: Everlywell Cholesterol and Lipids Test at Amazon

"Provides meaningful, easy-to-understand insight into your cardiovascular health and what your results mean for you."

Most Comprehensive Mail-In Kit: Choose Health Cholesterol & Internal Health Test at Amazon

"An easy, non-intrusive way to learn how your lifestyle is impacting your long-term health."

Most Comprehensive: CardioCheck Blood Testing Device at Amazon

"Results take about three to five minutes, and the device will store the most recent 30 for easy review."

Healthy cholesterol levels are a key component of cardiovascular wellness. The American Heart Association recommends getting a cholesterol test every four to six years, which involves a blood lipid panel as part of your annual physical to review your total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides.

These regular check-ins can indicate whether lifestyle and medication adjustments need to be made to keep your blood cholesterol within a healthy range.

At-home testing kits can be particularly handy for people diagnosed with high cholesterol who may want to test their blood more frequently to better manage their cardiovascular health. Others who have a family history of high cholesterol might be curious to check their levels when they’re young (and before the tests are ordered by their doctors) as a preventative measure.

While home cholesterol testing should not be used as a replacement for the comprehensive diagnostics provided by your physician, it can be an excellent addition to a proactive health regimen.

With that said, here are the seven best at-home cholesterol test kits to help you care for your heart in between visits with your doctor.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: CardioChek Analyzer Cholesterol Kit

This cholesterol testing kit makes it easy to monitor your blood cholesterol no matter where you are. It comes with the electronic analyzer, test strips for total cholesterol, test strips for HDL, test strips for triglycerides, lancets, and capillary rods. When used properly, the meter produces accurate readings that you can rely on between doctor appointments.

This meter functions similarly to a blood glucose meter. You simply place a droplet of blood on a test strip, insert the test strip into the electronic meter, and review your results in as little as 90 seconds. The device is user-friendly, and the test strip refills are very reasonably priced and much less expensive than requesting additional lab work at your doctor’s office.

Most User-Friendly: Curo L5 Blood Cholesterol Test Kit

The Curo L5 has an intuitive design that makes it simple and easy to use. The test strips quickly and effectively draw your sample into the blood inlet via capillary action, making it easier to provide the correct sample size the first time around and receive accurate testing results. With the right test strips, it can measure your total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. This kit comes with 10 total cholesterol testing strips—the others must be purchased separately.

The device shares your test results within two minutes. It’s also compatible with Curo blood glucose testing strips should you want to monitor your blood sugar as well. And it comes with a lifetime warranty, so you can feel good about the initial investment.

Most Comprehensive Home Kit: LipidoCare Cholesterol Test Kit

Another electronic monitor, the LipidoCare cholesterol test kit, provides the best range of cholesterol test options. It reports six data points with just one blood sample—total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, LDL/HDL, non-HDL, and triglycerides. It uses profile cholesterol test strips that are capable of reporting your entire blood lipid panel instead of requiring a different type of test strip for every type of cholesterol.

The monitor itself is sleek and compact, making it an ideal choice for folks who travel a lot or seem to always be on the move. The kit comes with the meter, 10 profile testing strips, lancets, capillary rods, and a one-year warranty.

Best Budget Test: SELFCheck Cholesterol Test Kit

In the realm of more basic, manual cholesterol testing kits, SELFCheck is a great option. For less than $20, the single-use test can report your total cholesterol in a matter of three minutes. It’s simple to use, known for its accuracy, and it can provide a helpful data point for people who recently began keeping track of their blood cholesterol.

The packet contains a test card, a lancet, and a plaster. It’s ideal for adults over the age of 40 seeking a clear indicator of their current cardiovascular health so they can be more proactive with medical interventions that will get them on track and help them stay there. If the test produces a result outside of the 5 mmol/L range, consult with your doctor for a full blood lipid panel and their advice on how to better manage your blood cholesterol.

Best Online Integration: Everlywell Cholesterol and Lipids Test

Plenty of younger people are curious about their blood cholesterol, but their doctors don’t yet require a full blood lipid panel during their routine check-ups. That’s where mail-in test options like this one from Everlywell can come in handy. The test itself isn’t time-sensitive, and once it’s analyzed by physicians in a laboratory setting, it gives meaningful, easy-to-understand insight into your cardiovascular health and what your results mean for you. You can then choose to download and share the data with your doctor, family, or friends.

This test measures total cholesterol, HDL, direct LDL, and triglycerides based on a single finger-prick blood sample. The kit comes with an alcohol prep pad, lancets, a blood collection card, a blood sample return bag, a gauze pad, a bandage, a return envelope, and a prepaid shipping label.

Most Comprehensive Mail-In Kit: Choose Health Cholesterol & Internal Health Test

If you want access to important details about your blood cholesterol and other important components of cardiovascular health all in one test, this mail-in kit is your best bet. A single blood sample returns a cholesterol analysis, including HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. It also provides your average blood sugar reading, tests for insulin resistance (an important marker for diabetes), measures your visceral fat, and analyzes your body’s current levels of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Basically, this test helps you learn how your lifestyle is impacting your long-term health, which can help you determine whether you need to make any significant lifestyle changes. After you submit your finger-prick blood sample via the pre-paid envelope, your results will be available for review on the Choose Health app within seven days.

Most Comprehensive: CardioChek Blood Testing Device

The CardioCheck Blood Testing Device is the perfect combination of simplicity and utility, allowing users to test total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides using only two buttons. It’s also useful for testing for diabetes and other diseases.

Unlike the CardioChek Cholesterol Analyzer, the device’s true value comes into play when you consider what’s included: 18 lancets and capillary tubes, and six test strips for each of the three lipids CardioCheck screens. Results take about three to five minutes, and the device will store the most recent 30 for easy review.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a way to monitor your blood cholesterol levels frequently and accurately between doctor visits without spending an arm and a leg on test strips, you can’t beat the CardioChek Analyzer Cholesterol Kit. But if the price isn’t a factor for you, our experts say splurge a little on the LipidoCare meter instead so you can access your full blood lipid panel. Manual tests are usually the cheaper option, but they provide far less information.

What to Look for in a Cholesterol Test Kit

FDA Approval: Only a handful of over-the-counter home cholesterol test kits have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration. These tests are considered almost as accurate as the tests conducted at a doctor’s office and sent to a laboratory for evaluation when users follow the instructions correctly. Our experts recommend looking for the “FDA Approved” label to ensure that your home results are truly informative and worth the expense.

Test Type: There are three types of at-home cholesterol test kits. The first uses an electronic monitor similar to a glucometer to analyze your blood sample. The second uses test strips that you read visually with a color change chart. The third requires you to send your blood sample to a lab and wait to receive your results via mail or email. Decide which type of test best suits your needs to narrow down your options easily and effectively.

Type of Cholesterol Measured: All at-home cholesterol test kits measure total cholesterol, and the more advanced options provide HDL and triglycerides readings as well. Only one of the FDA-approved cholesterol test kits also measures LDL. Pay close attention to what each test measures if you’re in need of a more comprehensive analysis, and expect higher price tags on the tests that provide more measurements.

Why Trust Verywell

As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands how important it is to know exactly what you’re getting in a product intended for medical use. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to condition-specific products to homeopathic essential oils, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.