Table 1.

Reference values and therapeutic targets for adults > 20 years according to the patient’s cardiovascular risk assessed by the physician requesting the lipid profile

Lipids	With fasting (mg/dL)	Without fasting (mg/dL)	Referential category
Total cholesterol*	< 190	< 190	Desirable
HDL-C	> 40	> 40	Desirable
Triglycerides**	< 150	< 175	Desirable
			Risk category
LDL-C	< 130 < 100 < 70 < 50	< 130 < 100 < 70 < 50	Low Intermediary High Very high
Non-HDL-C	< 160 < 130 < 100 < 80	< 160 < 130 < 100 < 80	Low Intermediary High Very high

^*Total cholesterol > 310 mg/dL: consider the likelihood of familial hypercholesterolemia;

^**When the triglyceride levels are above 440 mg/dL (without fasting), the prescribing physician must request a new triglycerides measurement after 12-hour fasting and the laboratory should consider this as a new triglycerides test.