MetabolicMarkers

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Current promotion

Advanced Cardiovascular Testing: ApoB, Lp(a) & hs-CRP Panels

The risk markers a routine cholesterol test leaves out, measured in one blood draw.

Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission when you purchase lab tests through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

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Advanced panels from $112.76 with the 20% promotion; the full range spans $15.63–$408.76 promotional (list $22.95–$510.95, at time of writing).

At a glance

Advanced cardiovascular testing measures risk markers that a standard cholesterol panel does not report: Apolipoprotein B (a count-based measure of atherogenic particles), Lipoprotein (a) (a largely inherited marker associated with atherosclerosis risk), hs-CRP and homocysteine (inflammation markers), and metabolic measures like hemoglobin A1c and insulin. It is built for people whose basic lipid results look fine, or borderline, but who want a deeper, particle-level and inflammation-aware view to discuss with their doctor.

Best suited for

  • People whose standard cholesterol results are normal or borderline but who want particle-level detail like ApoB
  • Adults with a family history of early cardiovascular events who have never had Lp(a) measured
  • Anyone who wants inflammation markers (hs-CRP, homocysteine) tested alongside their lipids
  • Data-driven adults tracking how lifestyle or medication changes move advanced markers over time

What's included

Cardio IQ™ Max Lipid Panel

8 tests, 27 biomarkers, advanced lipoprotein analysis

Cardio IQ™ Max Lipid Panel + Fibrinogen Antigen

9 tests, 28 biomarkers, adds fibrinogen antigen

Heart Health - Advanced

13 tests, 32 biomarkers, lipids, inflammation markers, blood glucose, and more

Heart Health - Comprehensive

16 tests, 36 biomarkers, cholesterol, inflammation, clotting, blood sugar, and kidney function markers

Heart Health - Basic Plus

6 tests, 14 biomarkers, mid-tier option with inflammation and metabolic markers

Heart Health - Basic

3 tests, 11 biomarkers, entry-level option beyond a lipid panel

Lipid Panel Test

1 test, 6 biomarkers, standard cholesterol baseline for comparison

Deep-dive the key markers: Fasting Glucose, HbA1c, Fasting Insulin, ApoB, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, Lp(a), hs-CRP, TSH, Vitamin D

Key biomarker ranges

Commonly used adult reference ranges for markers this panel measures, labs vary, so always interpret results against your lab's stated ranges and with your doctor.

Fasting Glucose (mg/dL)

Commonly used reference ranges place fasting glucose at 70–99 mg/dL; results vary with sleep, stress, and recent illness, and labs differ slightly.

Fasting Glucose reference ranges (mg/dL)
ZoneRange
Low50–70 mg/dL
Optimal70–100 mg/dL
Prediabetic range100–126 mg/dL
Diabetic range126–160 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c (%)

Commonly used reference ranges place HbA1c below 5.7%; conditions affecting red blood cells can skew results, so labs and clinicians interpret in context.

Hemoglobin A1c reference ranges (%)
ZoneRange
Optimal4–5.7 %
Prediabetic range5.7–6.5 %
Diabetic range6.5–10 %
Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL)

Commonly used reference ranges accept up to ~25 µIU/mL, but many clinicians view single-digit fasting insulin as the more informative target; assays vary by lab.

Fasting Insulin reference ranges (µIU/mL)
ZoneRange
Low0–2 µIU/mL
Optimal2–10 µIU/mL
Above optimal10–25 µIU/mL
High25–30 µIU/mL

The importance of testing

LDL cholesterol reports the amount of cholesterol carried in particles, but Apolipoprotein B counts the particles themselves, and particle number is a distinct marker associated with atherosclerosis risk. Measuring ApoB alongside ApoA1 shows the balance between atherogenic and protective lipoproteins, adding a dimension your standard panel does not capture.

Lipoprotein (a) is different again: it is largely determined by genetics, is not reflected in routine cholesterol results, and is typically worth measuring at least once. If your family history includes early cardiovascular events, an Lp(a) result gives you and your doctor a concrete data point rather than an open question.

Inflammation and metabolic markers round out the picture. hs-CRP tracks low-grade inflammation associated with cardiovascular risk, homocysteine is a marker associated with arterial stress, and glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and insulin show how blood sugar control and insulin resistance intersect with your lipid numbers. The largest panels add BNP, Cystatin C, Fibrinogen, Myeloperoxidase Antibody, Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and TSH.

Because many of these markers respond to diet, training, and medication, while others, like Lp(a), stay relatively stable, retesting over time separates what you can move from what you simply need to know about, and gives your doctor a far richer dataset to work from.

Part of our complete guide to Heart Health Lab Tests — browse every panel and biomarker guide in this hub.

Promo code

ULTA2191

Save 20% with code ULTA2191, current promotion; confirm final pricing on the partner page.

Ready to get your numbers? Order online, visit a nearby draw site, and receive private results to review with your doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

What does advanced cardiovascular testing measure that a regular cholesterol test doesn't?

Advanced panels add Apolipoprotein B and ApoA1 (lipoprotein particle balance), Lipoprotein (a), inflammation markers like hs-CRP and homocysteine, and metabolic measures such as hemoglobin A1c and insulin, none of which appear on a standard lipid panel. The largest tiers also include BNP, Cystatin C, Fibrinogen, Myeloperoxidase Antibody, Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, Vitamin D, Sed Rate, and TSH.

Why measure ApoB if I already know my LDL cholesterol?

ApoB counts atherogenic lipoprotein particles directly, while LDL cholesterol measures the cholesterol those particles carry, and the two can diverge. ApoB is a marker associated with atherosclerosis risk that can add context when LDL alone looks unremarkable; it is a useful result to review with your doctor.

Is Lp(a) worth testing more than once?

Lp(a) is largely genetically determined and stays relatively stable, so a single measurement is often informative for years. Many people test it once to establish their level, then focus repeat testing on markers that respond to lifestyle and therapy, such as ApoB, hs-CRP, and A1c.

Can I order advanced cardiovascular tests without a doctor's referral?

Yes, these panels can be ordered directly online without a doctor's visit or referral. After a blood draw at a partner lab location, you receive results you can review yourself and bring to your healthcare provider.

Is this testing available in all US states?

No, direct-to-consumer lab testing is restricted or prohibited in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, so residents of those states may be blocked at the partner's checkout. Residents of other states can generally order online and use a local draw site.

References

  1. [1] Hidden Risks behind Normal Fasting Glucose: Is It Significant? — Diabetes & Metabolism Journal (Korean Diabetes Association, via PMC)
  2. [2] Good to Know: Factors Affecting Blood Glucose — Clinical Diabetes, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  3. [3] Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  4. [4] Interpreting A1C: Principles of the A1C Assay — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  5. [5] Interpreting A1C: Diabetes and Hemoglobin Variants — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  6. [6] The A1C Test & Diabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  7. [7] What Is Diabetes? — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  8. [8] Surrogate markers of insulin resistance: A review — World Journal of Diabetes (via PMC)
  9. [9] Insulin Assay Standardization: Leading to Measures of Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion for Practical Clinical Care — Diabetes Care, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  10. [10] Apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — F1000Research
  11. [11] Apolipoprotein B in the Risk Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases — Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  12. [12] ACC/AHA Issue Updated Guideline for Managing Lipids, Cholesterol — American Heart Association
  13. [13] Discordantly normal ApoB relative to elevated LDL-C in persons with metabolic disorders: A marker of atherogenic heterogeneity — American Journal of Preventive Cardiology
  14. [14] LDL: The 'Bad' Cholesterol — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  15. [15] Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel — European Heart Journal
  16. [16] Familial Hypercholesterolemia — GeneReviews, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  17. [17] Hypercholesterolemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  18. [18] Low HDL Cholesterol — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  19. [19] HPS2-THRIVE, AIM-HIGH and dal-OUTCOMES: HDL-cholesterol under attack — Global Cardiology Science & Practice
  20. [20] Metabolic syndrome — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  21. [21] Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  22. [22] Triglycerides — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  23. [23] Hypertriglyceridemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  24. [24] High Blood Triglycerides — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
  25. [25] Human Genetics and the Causal Role of Lipoprotein(a) for Various Diseases — Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy
  26. [26] Lipoprotein(a) Testing Trends in the United States 2015-2024: An Analysis of 300 Million Individuals — JACC: Advances
  27. [27] About Lipoprotein (a) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  28. [28] C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  29. [29] Assessing Cardiovascular Risk with C-Reactive Protein — Johns Hopkins Medicine
  30. [30] C-Reactive Protein: Clinical Relevance and Interpretation — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  31. [31] TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) Test — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  32. [32] Thyroid Function Tests — American Thyroid Association
  33. [33] Subclinical Hypothyroidism — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  34. [34] Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
  35. [35] Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline — Endocrine Society (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)
  36. [36] Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Reviewed by

Jason August

Jason August

Founder & Editorial Lead

Jason August is the founder of Metabolic Markers and its parent company, Advancing Development. He has spent his career building and scaling real-world ventures, including as a founding team member at Build-A-Bear Workshop during its growth from startup to global public company, and since then across capital, real estate, adaptive reuse, and hospitality. He founded Metabolic Markers to make blood-biomarker testing easier to understand and access, and oversees the site’s content and editorial accuracy. Jason is not a medical professional; all content on this site is educational, reviewed for accuracy, and never a substitute for advice from a licensed physician.

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