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Apolipoprotein Balance Home kit
Heart & metabolism · home kit

Apolipoprotein Balance

Measures apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein A-I — the proteins that carry “bad” and “good” cholesterol — and the ratio between them, for a closer look at heart risk than a standard cholesterol test.

Price £125 £99.99
Covers 3 markers
Type Home kit · posted to you
Order just this kit
Blood sample, collected at home
No fasting needed — collect at any time of day.
Free delivery — posted to any UK address
Results explained by our clinical team
About this test

Everything you need to know about Apolipoprotein Balance

Every particle that carries cholesterol towards your artery walls — LDL, VLDL and their remnants — has exactly one apolipoprotein B (ApoB) molecule on its surface, so ApoB is effectively a count of those potentially harmful particles. Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is the main protein in HDL, the particles that carry cholesterol away to the liver.

The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio puts the two side by side. Because it counts particles rather than the cholesterol inside them, it can reveal raised risk in people whose standard cholesterol looks reasonable — particularly with high triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance or weight carried around the middle. Our clinical team explains where your results sit and what, if anything, to do about them.

What's measured

What's included

3 markers in this test

Apolipoprotein A-I Apolipoprotein B Apolipoprotein B / A-I Ratio
Apolipoprotein BOne molecule on every LDL and VLDL particle — a direct count of the particles that can build up in artery walls.
Apolipoprotein A-IThe main protein in HDL, which carries cholesterol away from the arteries.
ApoB / ApoA-I ratioThe balance between the two; a higher ratio points to higher cardiovascular risk.
Who it's for

Worth considering if

  • A family history of heart attack or stroke, especially at a young age
  • Cholesterol that looks “borderline” and you want a clearer view
  • Type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides or weight carried around the middle
  • Tracking the effect of diet, exercise or cholesterol-lowering treatment
Important: A home test is not a diagnosis on its own. Where something needs looking at, we tell you what it means and what to do next. If you are unwell now, please see your GP or call 111 rather than waiting for a kit.
What to expect

Your home kit

1

Order online

Add the kit to your order — several kits can go in one order — and enter your delivery address. We post it to your door as soon as your payment reaches us, with free delivery.

2

Collect your sample at home

Follow the step-by-step instructions in the box. No fasting needed — collect at any time of day. Post the sample back the same day, Monday to Thursday, in the return packaging provided.

3

Results explained

Your results are released to your account with a written explanation from our clinical team.

Frequently Asked

Apolipoprotein Balance — FAQs

How is this different from a cholesterol test?
A cholesterol test measures how much cholesterol is in your blood; ApoB counts the particles that carry it. Two people with the same LDL cholesterol can have very different particle numbers, and the particle count tends to track more closely with heart risk.
Do I need to fast?
No. Apolipoproteins are not affected by a recent meal, so you can collect your sample at any time of day.
What if my ratio is high?
Our clinician explains it alongside your other risk factors — age, blood pressure, smoking and family history — because no single number tells the whole story. Lifestyle changes help, and where it makes sense we suggest you share the result with your GP, who can assess your overall heart risk.
Should I check my cholesterol as well?
The two complement each other. The Cholesterol Ratio kit gives the familiar numbers; Advanced Metabolic Health combines apolipoproteins, the full cholesterol profile, lipoprotein (a) and blood sugar markers in one kit.
How does the kit reach me?
We post it to your address anywhere in the UK as soon as your order is paid, and email you when it has been dispatched. Delivery is free on every home blood test kit. Everything you need to collect your sample and send it back is in the box.
How do I collect the sample?
Your kit contains everything you need and step-by-step instructions. Read them through first, collect at the time of day this test needs (see the preparation note above), label the sample and pack it in the return packaging provided.
When should I post my sample back?
On the day you collect it, Monday to Thursday, and not the day before a bank holiday — so it reaches the laboratory quickly and does not sit in the post over a weekend. A sample that arrives too old may not be able to be analysed.
Can I order several kits at once?
Yes. Use “Add to order” on each kit and then “Order” in the bar at the bottom — they go into one order and one payment and are posted together. Clinic blood tests are booked separately, because they need an appointment rather than an address.
How do I pay?
Home kit orders are paid by bank transfer. When you place your order we show our bank details and your payment reference on screen and by email, and we post your kit as soon as the payment reaches us.
How do I get my results?
Once the laboratory has analysed your sample, your results are released to your secure account with a written explanation from our clinical team, and a call where something needs talking through. Turnaround depends on the test and starts when the laboratory receives your sample.
More home test kits

Often ordered together

Add several kits to one order — one payment, posted together.

Heart & metabolism Cholesterol Ratio £93 £74.99
Heart & metabolism HDL Cholesterol Percentage Test £95 £79.99
Heart & metabolism Non-HDL Cholesterol Test £95 £79.99
Heart & metabolism Type 1 Diabetes Antibody £139 £113.99
Heart & metabolism Advanced Metabolic Health £135 £114.99
Heart & metabolism Diabetes Health £105 £89.99
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