Lipoprotein Fractionation Panel, Ion Mobility
Direct measurement of LDL particle number and size, which can reveal cardiovascular risk that standard cholesterol misses.
Consider this test if:
- Normal or borderline LDL cholesterol but a family history of early heart disease
- Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, prediabetes, or high triglycerides, which favor small dense LDL
- Building a detailed cardiovascular baseline beyond a standard lipid panel
- Tracking whether diet, exercise, or statin therapy is shifting your particle number and size
- Known coronary disease and wanting a finer view of residual risk
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in about 2 weeks · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Fasting is preferred but not required; a 9 to 12 hour fast gives the cleanest triglyceride and small-LDL picture. A blood draw timed before your next statin or fibrate dose keeps results comparable when tracking over time. Grossly lipemic or hemolyzed samples are rejected, so avoid a high-fat meal right before the draw.
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What this test is for
This panel uses ion mobility to directly measure the number, size, and concentration of lipoprotein particles, from small dense LDL up through large HDL. It matters because two people with identical LDL cholesterol can carry very different particle counts, and a high number of small, dense LDL particles tracks with greater risk of premature coronary disease than the cholesterol number alone suggests. It reports LDL particle number, peak particle size, the small/medium/large breakdown, and your overall LDL pattern (A, B, or intermediate), which is useful for setting a cardiovascular baseline and for seeing how diet, exercise, or lipid-lowering therapy shifts your particle profile.
The NMR-based lipoprotein particle panel measures much the same particles by a different technology, so choose this one if ion mobility is what you want; the ultracentrifugation panel is a different question entirely, measuring the cholesterol content within each lipoprotein fraction rather than counting particles.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 6 biomarkers
Large HDL particles measure the biggest, most buoyant subclass of HDL, the ones most efficient at pulling cholesterol out of artery walls and carrying it back to the liver for disposal. A high count generally tracks with better cardiovascular protection and often rises with aerobic exercise, weight loss, and moderate alcohol intake, while a low count despite normal total HDL can mean your HDL isn't doing its job well. This is most useful alongside ApoB and Lp(a) for people building a fuller picture of cardiovascular risk, or for tracking whether training and diet changes are actually improving your lipid profile rather than just moving the total HDL number.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Substance concentration
LDL particle number counts the actual number of LDL particles circulating in your blood, not just the cholesterol packed inside them. Each particle can lodge in an artery wall and seed plaque, so particle count often predicts cardiovascular risk more precisely than LDL cholesterol, especially when the two disagree (a common pattern with insulin resistance, high triglycerides, or metabolic syndrome). Test it to get a real baseline on atherogenic risk or to see whether diet, exercise, or medication changes are actually lowering the number of particles driving plaque, not just the cholesterol they carry.“}
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Substance concentration
LDL particle pattern classifies your LDL into Pattern A (larger, buoyant particles) or Pattern B (small, dense particles that slip into artery walls more easily and oxidize faster). Two people with identical LDL cholesterol can carry very different cardiovascular risk depending on which pattern dominates, which matters if you have a strong family history of heart disease, high triglycerides, or insulin resistance. It pairs well with ApoB and a lipid panel to clarify whether your cholesterol number is telling the whole story or hiding a riskier particle profile underneath.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Identity
This measures the average size of your LDL particles, not just how much LDL you're carrying. Smaller, dense LDL particles slip into artery walls more easily and oxidize faster, driving plaque formation, while larger, buoyant particles are comparatively less harmful, so two people with identical LDL cholesterol can carry very different cardiovascular risk. Pair it with ApoB and Lp(a) to see whether your cardiovascular risk is being underestimated by standard cholesterol testing, or track it as you change diet, carbs, or training to see your particle profile shift toward the less atherogenic pattern.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Length (per cell)
- Specimen
- Serum
- Measures
- Substance concentration
Small LDL particles measures the dense, cholesterol-poor LDL subtype that slips into artery walls more easily and lingers longer than large, buoyant LDL. Elevated levels often appear alongside high triglycerides, low HDL, and insulin resistance, a pattern common with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or a diet high in refined carbs, and one that standard LDL cholesterol can completely miss. Testing this is useful for anyone with a strong cardiovascular family history, borderline LDL but nagging risk factors, or a need to see whether carb reduction, weight loss, or exercise is actually shifting particle quality, not just particle count.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Substance concentration
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in about 2 weeks
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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