--- title: Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) Test type: test id: nmr-lipoprofile url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/nmr-lipoprofile" price_usd: 70.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 76.99 cpt: 83704 category: Heart Health sample: Blood draw fasting_required: true results_in: "3–5 business days" labs: - Labcorp orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=nmr-lipoprofile&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) Test > Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) measures Total Cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C plus 6 more from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $70.99 plus a $6 lab fee, requires an 8–12 hour fast, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Labcorp. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $70.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($76.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 83704 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Yes — 8–12 hours | | Results | 3–5 business days | | Labs | Labcorp | | Biomarkers measured | 9 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) test tell you? Nuclear magnetic resonance lipid profiling — the most advanced cholesterol test available with particle-level detail. The NMR LipoProfile uses nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to directly measure LDL particle number, size, and other advanced lipoprotein metrics that standard lipid panels cannot detect. It includes a complete lipid panel plus LDL-P (particle number), small LDL-P, LDL size, HDL-P, and LP-IR score (insulin resistance marker). This is the gold standard for cardiovascular lipid assessment. **Clinical use:** Nuclear magnetic resonance lipoprotein particle analysis — counts the actual number and size of LDL, HDL, and VLDL particles rather than estimating cholesterol mass. ## Who should order it? Anyone with normal cholesterol but family history of heart disease, metabolic syndrome / insulin resistance evaluation, anyone whose risk doesn't match their standard lipid panel, longevity protocols. ## Biomarkers measured - [Total Cholesterol](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/total-cholesterol) - [LDL-C](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/ldl-cholesterol) - [HDL-C](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/hdl-cholesterol) - [Triglycerides](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/triglycerides) - [LDL Particle Number](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/ldl-particle-number) - [Small LDL-P](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/small-ldl-particle) - [LDL Size](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/ldl-particle-size) - [HDL-P](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/hdl-particle-number) - LP-IR Score ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Labcorp | $70.99 | $76.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) test cost? A Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) test costs $70.99 at TestWell — $76.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $119.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $400.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $70.99 | $76.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $119.00 | $119.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/nmr-lipoprofile-test) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $400.00 | $400.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 37847 · Labcorp test no. 123638. ## How do you prepare? Fasting for 12 hours recommended. Water is okay. ## Related conditions - [Cardiovascular disease risk](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/heart-disease-risk) - Metabolic syndrome (E88.81) - Insulin resistance (E88.81) - Atherogenic dyslipidemia (E78.4) ## Common questions about the Advanced Cholesterol Particle Test (NMR) test ### What does NMR Lipoprofile measure? Particle counts — LDL particle number (LDL-P), small dense LDL, HDL particle number, VLDL particles, and a calculated insulin-resistance marker (LP-IR). Standard lipid panels measure the cholesterol carried by these particles; NMR counts the particles themselves, which is a more accurate cardiovascular risk marker. ### How is NMR different from ApoB? Both count atherogenic particles, but via different methods. [ApoB](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apolipoprotein-b) is a single immunoassay; NMR uses magnetic resonance to count and size all lipoprotein subclasses plus generate an insulin-resistance score. NMR gives more detail; ApoB is cheaper and just as good for routine risk stratification. ### What's a healthy LDL particle number? Below 1000 nmol/L is low risk. 1000-1299 is borderline. 1300-1599 is high risk. Above 1600 nmol/L is very high. Small-dense LDL above 300 nmol/L specifically suggests insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. ### How much does NMR Lipoprofile cost without insurance? On TestWell, NMR Lipoprofile is $70.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $150, walk-in hospital labs and specialty cardiology offices typically bill $300-400 without insurance. ### What is the CPT code for NMR Lipoprofile? The CPT code for NMR lipoprotein particle analysis is 83704. ### Do I need to fast for an NMR test? Yes — 9-12 hour fast (water only). Recent meals dramatically alter VLDL particle counts and can skew the entire profile. ### Should I order NMR or just a standard Lipid Panel + ApoB? For most people, [Lipid Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/lipid-panel) + [ApoB](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apolipoprotein-b) at ~$56 total gives you 95% of the information at half the cost of NMR. Order NMR when you specifically want particle-size breakdown (e.g., investigating small-dense LDL on a low-carb diet) or the LP-IR insulin-resistance score. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=nmr-lipoprofile&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Labcorp patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 3–5 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [ApoB — Heart Attack Risk Predictor](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apolipoprotein-b) — $30.99 - [ApoE Genotype (Cardiovascular Risk)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/apoe-genotype-cardio) — $133.99 - [Fibrinogen Activity](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fibrinogen-test) — $22.99 - [Homocysteine](https://www.test-well.com/tests/homocysteine) — $27.99 - [Lp(a) Hereditary Heart Risk Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/lipoprotein-a) — $34.99 - [All Heart Health tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/heart-health) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/nmr-lipoprofile Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.