This panel of tests is done assess one's risk of cardiovascular disease and accordingly guide therapy. It includes: A lipid panel typically includes:

• Total cholesterol—measures all the cholesterol in all the lipoprotein particles
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)—measures the cholesterol in HDL particles; often called "good cholesterol" because HDL-C takes up excess cholesterol and carries it to the liver for removal.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—calculates or measures the cholesterol in LDL particles; often called "bad cholesterol" because it deposits excess cholesterol in walls of blood vessels, which can contribute to atherosclerosis. Usually, the amount of LDL-C is calculated using the results of total cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglycerides.
• Triglycerides—measures all the triglycerides in all the lipoprotein particles; most is in the very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)

• Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)—calculated from triglycerides/5; this formula is based on the typical composition of VLDL particles.
• Non-HDL-C—calculated from total cholesterol minus HDL-C
• Cholesterol/HDL ratio—calculated ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C.