How can you test cholesterol levels?

Fasting lipids: You should fast for at least 8 hours and then have blood drawn for total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL (good) cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol. The results need to be interpreted by a physician who also knows your detailed medical background in terms of whether you have hypertension, diabetes, heart/kidney disease, obesity, as well as smoking and family history.