Species: All, including birds

Specimen: Plasma or serum

Container: EDTA, heparin or red top tube

Collection protocol: Fasted sample preferred.

Special handling/shipping requirements: Standard

General information about the disease:

Used mainly to assist with assessment of liver function and some endocrinopathies

General information about when this test is indicated:

A sterol lipid found in animal tissue which can be absorbed from diet or made in liver (and other tissues). In fasting samples most will have been made by hepatocytes. Hypercholesterolaemia can result from increased production, reduced lipolysis/processing of lipoproteins, and some other processes. Hypocholesterolaemia can result from reduced production and some other processes. Liver diseases may result in increases or decreases in cholesterol, depending on the pathogenesis.

Major differentials:

• Increase: Postprandial, nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, excess glucocorticoids/hyperadrenocorticism, pancreatitis, idiopathic hyperlipidaemia (breed related), cholestasis.
• Decrease: Hepatic dysfunction/shunt, low fat diet, protein losing enteropathy/Gi disease/malabsorption, hyperthyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism.

Comparison with other related tests: N/A