How to check your own cholesterol at home?

Cholesterol levels should also be checked regularly, especially if you have a history of certain chronic diseases. If so, having a cholesterol check at home can be very helpful. There are several cholesterol test kits at home that can be used alone without the assistance of a doctor or nurse. However, is the cholesterol check tool at home accurate? how to use this cholesterol test?

Is the cholesterol test at home accurate?

With a cholesterol test tool, you will more easily monitor cholesterol levels without having to go to the doctor. This cholesterol test tool can also give results in minutes.

The accuracy of the results of cholesterol tools will vary depending on the brand used. This is also influenced by how precisely you follow the procedure for using the tool.

Reported on the MD Web page, basically this home cholesterol check tool has an accuracy value of at least 95%. This is quite accurate, but checking cholesterol tests with this practical tool should not replace routine cholesterol tests that you need at a health center or hospital.

Because, to determine health conditions, it cannot be solely from the results of this cholesterol test kit. Other tests are needed by health workers at health centers or hospitals.

For example, judging from its physical condition, or other laboratory measurements. In addition, this practical test usually only shows total cholesterol levels, not LDL and HDL.

How to use a cholesterol check tool at home?

Now you can get a cholesterol test kit at a medical device store or pharmacy. In general, when buying a cholesterol test kit you will get a lancet to bleed, and test strips.

There are two types of cholesterol check devices at home, paper method tools and electronic meter methods.

First you clean the fingers first using alcohol. Then, prick your fingertips with lancet. Next, place blood drops on the strip.

In the paper cholesterol checker, this test strip contains special chemicals that can change color in a few minutes.

Pay attention to the last color shown by the test strip, then match it with the list of colors contained in your cholesterol test kit. This color will show how much cholesterol is based on your blood droplets.

In an electronic cholesterol test kit, the difference is you have to attach the test strip to a small electronic device that measures cholesterol. From that tool you will read how much your cholesterol level. This tool is similar to a glucose test device that is usually used by diabetics to control blood sugar.

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