Clinic test
Inherited High Cholesterol Risk Test
Tests the five genes behind familial hypercholesterolaemia — LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, LDLRAP1 and APOE — the inherited cause of high cholesterol that diet alone cannot fix.
Everything you need to know about Inherited High Cholesterol Risk Test
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) affects around one in 250 people and most do not know they have it. It means LDL cholesterol is high from birth, so the arteries are exposed for decades longer than usual — which is why untreated FH leads to heart disease unusually early. Found in time, it is very treatable.
This test analyses the genes where FH-causing changes are found: LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, LDLRAP1 and APOE. A genetic test looks at the DNA you were born with. It tells you about inherited likelihood, not certainty: a variant can raise your risk without meaning you will develop the condition, and a clear result does not remove the everyday risk everyone carries. Results are explained to you by our clinical team, and we will say when a conversation with your GP or a genetics service is the right next step. A positive result usually means a conversation with your GP about lipid-lowering treatment and testing of close relatives, half of whom are likely to carry the same change.
What's included
5 genes in this test
Worth considering if
- Total cholesterol above 7.5 mmol/L or LDL above 4.9 mmol/L on a previous test
- A parent or sibling with a heart attack or angina before 60 (men) or 65 (women)
- High cholesterol that has not responded to diet and exercise
- Fatty deposits around the eyes or tendons (xanthelasma, tendon xanthomas)
Your visit
Book online
Add this test — and any others — to your booking, pick a time at the clinic and pay online. No preparation needed. Bring any previous cholesterol results you have.
Your visit
About 15 minutes at 44 Crawford Street, Marylebone. Our clinical team takes your sample (blood sample for dna analysis) and answers any questions.
Results explained
The laboratory analyses your sample and your results are released to your secure account with a written explanation from our clinical team — and a call where something needs talking through.
Inherited High Cholesterol Risk Test — FAQs
Does this test measure my cholesterol?
My cholesterol is high but no variant was found — what does that mean?
If I have FH, what happens next?
How long do results take?
Does this matter if I am planning a pregnancy?
Where is the test done?
How long does the appointment take?
Can I book several tests at once?
How do I pay, and can I cancel?
How do I get my results?
Often booked together
Add several tests to one booking — they are all taken in the same visit.
