A drop of blood from your finger is all that is needed to use these home kits, whereas if you go to a doctor you will probably end up having someone stick a big needle into a vein to draw a syringe of blood. This is not the least bit pleasant, but it is done to justify a higher bill for you to pay. The testing labs make money too, as well as the doctor. And then the labs refuse to send the results to you. Here is the policy of the American Heart Association.
Cholesterol can play a critical role in a person's health.
It's important that all people know what their cholesterol level is and how it affects their risk of developing heart disease. People also need to learn about all risk factors for heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease that can be controlled. That's why knowing your total blood cholesterol level is an important first step in determining your risk for heart disease. Yet, all independent researchers in this field state that total cholesterol is the major factor, and if you can get your total cholesterol down to the 150-160 range or less, you can be almost certain that you are not depositing plaque in your arteries.