Lipids
HDL Cholesterol — what it measures
For understanding, not diagnosis. Reference ranges differ between laboratories; the ranges on your own report, and your doctor’s reading of them, always come first.
What it measures
HDL cholesterol is the fraction carried in high-density lipoprotein particles, involved in transporting cholesterol away from tissues toward the liver. It is reported alongside total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in the lipid profile.
What can skew it
Exercise, alcohol, smoking status and some medicines shift HDL noticeably, and very high values are not automatically better in every study.
Reference ranges
Reference ranges vary by laboratory and sex, so read your result only against your own report's range and discuss the full lipid pattern with your clinician.
Medical disclaimer: This page is educational only. It cannot tell you whether your result is normal or what to do about it — that is a decision for your doctor, with your full history.