Skin Cholesterol Test - Limiting The Risks

Traditional testing of cholesterol has been carried out through invasive blood tests that involve taking blood samples from the patients. These tests can sometimes be dangerous because they have the potential of infecting the patient with deadly diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc through infected needles. Heralding a new beginning in the testing of cholesterol is the skin cholesterol test, which is a simple non-invasive test that gives accurate results without risking the patient's health.

Cholesterol Tests:

A cholesterol test or blood fat profile is a group of simple blood tests that reveals important information about the types, amount and distribution of the various types of fats (lipids) in the bloodstream. The two main lipids that are measured are cholesterol and triglycerides. By analyzing information about these lipids, the cholesterol test gives important information about someone's risk of developing heart-related conditions such as coronary artery disease.

Skin Cholesterol Test

Sometimes the cholesterol test may have altered readings due to the rapid changes in blood glucose levels, during which the readings of the test may be indefinite. To avoid these differences in accuracy of the readings, scientists have come up with a new palm test for cholesterol - the Cholesterol Skin Test. This new cholesterol test method is called the Cholesterol 1,2,3 test. International Medical Innovations Inc. of Toronto, Canada manufactures the Cholesterol 1,2,3 test.

A non-invasive method to test the lipid levels, the test allows cholesterol levels to be measured from the skin on the palms of adults with coronary artery disease rather than from blood samples, as the current cholesterol tests require.

Restrictions for use

For now the FDA approves the test for people with coronary artery disease and those who have had a heart attack. The cholesterol 1, 2, 3 test was not shown to be useful in identifying people with less severe coronary artery disease and is not intended to be used as a screening tool to determine risk for coronary disease in the general population.

This test is intended to be used along with the standard blood tests and not as a substitute. This test is done painlessly as there is no need to fast prior to test. There is also no need of blood samples to be taken from the body as required in blood cholesterol tests.

Description

A band-aid-like applicator pad is placed on the palm of the hand. Drops of reagent solution are added to the pad, which remains on the palm for three minutes. A handheld reader attached to a computer is then used to read the amount of blue color in the pad. The results are then displayed on the computer screen. The shade of blue depends on the level of cholesterol detected.

In clinical trials involving more than 600 patients known to have blockage of their coronary arteries, the test, combined with a standard blood cholesterol test, correctly identified those with the most severe blockage.

The test cannot be used on people with skin diseases on the hand or on those who recently applied skin lotions or topical medications, as these may interfere with the results. Also, the test results may be race and age dependent.

It could provide more information about risk of severe coronary artery disease beyond that already available with blood cholesterol, and other risk factors in patients with severe disease or previous heart attack.

The Safety Factor

This new method of testing is far more effective and safe since it gives immediate results. The test is painless, fast and easy, with no pricking involved. This makes it safer than most tests, as the risk of infection is extremely low.