HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your blood and is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. This test can be used by a healthcare provider along with other factors to evaluate your cardiovascular health.

A healthy HDL cholesterol range for you may depend on your age, family history, lifestyle, and other risk factors. In general, low LDL levels and high HDL cholesterol levels are good for heart health. High levels of triglycerides may also put you at risk for heart disease. We encourage you to share your result with your own primary care provider, who can consider your individual factors when evaluating your test results and recommending the appropriate next steps.