The below is an excerpt from an article first published in the December 27, 2025 issue of Westchester Magazine.
An annual checkup almost always ends with a blood draw before they send you on your way. A few days later, you hear back about your good and bad cholesterol levels, your A1C, and a few other results. Useful, yes, but are these data points enough to connect the dots regarding your overall health? Not necessarily. In fact, there are several other tests and screenings you might also want to consider, even if your physician doesn’t automatically order them…
Advanced cholesterol panel
A standard blood test measures your total cholesterol, HDL (“good”) and LDL (“bad) cholesterol levels, as well as triglycerides. This souped-up panel, however, goes above and beyond that by measuring two other values. The first is called lipoprotein A, a particle that transports fat and cholesterol in the blood. The second is apolipoprotein B (ApoB), which is a variant of LDL cholesterol. High levels of these can mean your heart is at risk for plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
“These advanced cholesterol tests can actually help uncover if there’s heart disease, even when the cholesterol levels may look good,”
says Daniel Silovitz, DO, an internal medicine physician at White Plains Hospital who specializes in preventive medicine and chronic condition management. They can also help guide treatment for borderline numbers. Quest Diagnostics, which has a White Plains outpost, charges $45 for a lipoprotein A test; Labcorp, in lower Westchester, charges $69 for APOB testing.
Dr. Daniel Silovitz is an internal medicine physician at WPHPA of Harrison, specializing in preventive medicine and the management of chronic conditions. To make an appointment, call 914.835.0073.