ApoB Testing
The single most actionable cardiovascular test. Every 6 to 12 months.
What it does
ApoB counts the atherogenic particles that actually drive atherosclerosis, so it is more precise than LDL-C and changes clinical decisions more often. It is cheap, widely available, and disproportionately informative — but only worth doing if you will act on an elevated result: under 80 mg/dL for general optimization, under 60 for high risk.
Each ApoB-containing lipoprotein carries exactly one ApoB molecule, so the ApoB concentration is a direct count of atherogenic particles. LDL-C measures only the cholesterol cargo, which can vary independently of particle number.
What the evidence shows
Overall evidence strength: High certainty
Who it's for, who should skip
Anyone optimizing cardiovascular risk who will act on the result. Ask for it specifically — most standard lipid panels default to LDL-C.
Running it
Measuring it
Retest ApoB — Every 6–12 months on therapy, 4–12 weeks after a change — ApoB follows the lipid-panel schedule (klik house rule)..
Stacking & alternatives
Access & cost
Ordered as a lab test through the bloodwork lane.
Citations
- ApoB outperforms LDL-C as a predictor of cardiovascular risk
- ApoB is causal to atherosclerotic disease (Mendelian randomization)
Last reviewed 27 August 2026.