A complete picture of your blood fats — six markers that determine cardiovascular risk far more accurately than total cholesterol alone. Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death among Lagos adults. Know your numbers.
Blood lipids are not all equal. LDL builds arterial plaques; HDL removes them. Triglycerides reflect diet and insulin resistance. Together they map your heart attack and stroke risk.
LDL-cholesterol infiltrates arterial walls and forms atherosclerotic plaques — the foundation of heart attacks and strokes that kill thousands of Lagos adults annually. Total cholesterol includes all fractions; the ratio to HDL is more predictive than total alone. Target LDL <3.0 mmol/L (lower for Lagos diabetics or cardiac patients).
HDL scavenges cholesterol from vessel walls — low HDL is an independent cardiac risk factor, and common in Lagos adults with high carbohydrate intake and low physical activity. Triglycerides reflect dietary fat, alcohol use, and insulin resistance — particularly elevated in Lagos patients with metabolic syndrome.
The Total Cholesterol to HDL ratio is the single most predictive number in the panel for Lagos cardiovascular risk. A ratio above 5.0 doubles cardiovascular risk; above 7.0 is very high risk. Two Lagos patients with identical LDL can have very different true risks based on their HDL — this ratio captures the difference.
Eat a normal dinner then fast completely (water only) for 9 to 12 hours. Food — especially fatty Lagos meals — dramatically raises triglycerides. Lagos patients from Lekki, Lagos Island, or Ikeja are advised to book an early morning slot via WhatsApp to arrive before peak traffic while still fasted.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test — even moderate alcohol transiently raises triglycerides. Avoid intense exercise 24 hours prior. Maintain your normal Lagos diet in the days before — don't diet specifically for the test, as your baseline is what matters clinically.
Bring a list of all medications — especially statins, fibrates, oral contraceptives, steroids, and beta-blockers. Do not stop statins for the test — your cardiologist needs to see your lipid profile on treatment to assess whether the dose is adequate.
Calibrated enzymatic methods for every lipid marker. VLDL and LDL values align with international cardiovascular risk calculators used by Lagos cardiologists.
Every Lagos lipid report includes the cardiac risk ratio — explained in plain terms, not just flagged. You understand what your specific combination means for your heart, not just which values are outside range.
We retain records for monitoring — essential if you have started statin therapy. Seeing your LDL trend across visits is more informative than any single value.
52 Sholanke Street, Akoka — on the Lagos Mainland–Island corridor. Open Mon – Sat 9 AM – 5 PM. Walk-ins and WhatsApp bookings accepted. Early morning fasted slots fill quickly.
"My Lagos doctor only ever checked total cholesterol. Mascot ran the full panel and found my HDL was critically low despite a 'normal' total cholesterol. That's what had been missed for years."
Walk in or book ahead. Located at 52 Sholanke Street, Off Chemist Junction, Akoka, Lagos.
Monday – Saturday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Closed Sundays & Public Holidays