A sharper cardiovascular risk marker than LDL cholesterol. ApoB counts the harmful particles directly. No referral needed, walk in, and find out where you sit.
A standard cholesterol test measures the amount of cholesterol in your LDL particles. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) counts the number of harmful particles directly. Each LDL, VLDL, IDL and Lp(a) particle carries one ApoB protein, so measuring ApoB gives you the most direct count of atherogenic particles in your blood.
people are estimated to have normal LDL cholesterol but elevated ApoB, based on lipid discordance research. Standard testing alone misses them.
Standard cholesterol tests measure weight. ApoB counts the actual number of plaque-forming particles in your blood.
cardiovascular risk marker according to many cardiologists who now prefer ApoB over LDL alone.
Multiple large studies have shown ApoB outperforms LDL cholesterol as a predictor of cardiovascular events. Yet it rarely shows up unless you specifically ask for it.
Your LDL looks fine but something feels off. ApoB often reveals an elevated particle count that standard cholesterol testing can completely miss.
Cardiovascular issues run in the family? ApoB gives you a sharper risk picture than standard cholesterol panels, especially when family history is present.
Insulin resistance, fatty liver, and metabolic syndrome can drive ApoB up even when LDL looks fine. ApoB is especially useful when these are in the picture.
On statins or actively managing cholesterol? ApoB lets you see whether your treatment is actually reducing particle count, not just the weight reading.
ApoB is not part of the standard Medicare lipid panel. Most GPs won't order it unless you specifically ask, and many still won't. With MediTests, you get it yourself.
Real reviews from Australians who tested their ApoB privately.
My LDL has always been "fine" but I knew something was off. Got my ApoB tested through MediTests and it came back well above range. Glad I checked, my standard cholesterol test had been giving me false reassurance.
Verified reviewHeard Peter Attia banging on about ApoB being the better marker than LDL. Asked my GP, got nowhere. Got it through MediTests instead, sample taken the next morning, results before the weekend. Easy.
Verified reviewWanted to track my actual particle count, not just the cholesterol weight number. My GP wouldn't order ApoB. Did it myself through MediTests, $79, sorted. Same accredited lab.
Verified reviewI'd been on statins for a year and wanted to know if my particle count had actually dropped, not just my LDL. MediTests had me sorted in two days. Way easier than going back to the GP.
Verified reviewGot the full cardiovascular workup through MediTests, ApoB plus Lp(a). Two markers my GP would never have ordered. Real particle count picture, not the textbook one.
Verified reviewFamily history of cardiovascular issues plus metabolic stuff on my dad's side. Wanted ApoB because of the particle count thing. Got it through MediTests, walked in, results in my inbox. Now I know exactly where I sit.
Verified reviewMost lipid panels test cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. None of those count the actual number of harmful particles in your blood. ApoB does. One number, the sharpest cardiovascular picture.
ApoB is a protein found on the surface of every atherogenic lipoprotein in your blood, including LDL, VLDL, IDL and Lp(a). Each particle carries exactly one ApoB molecule, so measuring it counts the total number of plaque-forming particles directly. When ApoB and LDL disagree, cardiovascular outcomes tend to follow the ApoB number, which is why many cardiologists now prefer it.
What it tells youHow it works
Step one
Get your ApoB test
Choose your test and complete checkout in minutes. You'll receive an instant PDF pathology request to your inbox. No GP visit, no referral needed.
Step two
Walk into any collection centre
Take your referral to any of our 3,300+ Healius partner collection centres across Australia. No booking, no appointment, just walk in. No fasting required for ApoB alone.
Step three
Receive your results privately
Your full results report is sent privately to your inbox, typically within 24 to 72 hours. Your ApoB result shown against the standard Australian reference range in a clean PDF.
Here's who gets the most value from knowing their ApoB.
Your LDL looks fine but you suspect there's more to the picture. ApoB often reveals elevated particle count that standard cholesterol testing misses entirely.
Cardiovascular issues run in the family? ApoB gives you a sharper risk picture than standard cholesterol panels, especially when family history is present.
You follow the longevity conversation. You know cardiologists like Peter Attia have made ApoB the centrepiece of modern cardiovascular risk assessment.
Insulin resistance, fatty liver and metabolic syndrome can drive ApoB up even when LDL looks fine. ApoB is especially useful when these are in the picture.
ApoB isn't on the standard Medicare panel. Many GPs won't order it even when asked. With MediTests, you don't have to justify yourself.
On statins or actively managing cholesterol? Use ApoB to see whether your treatment is genuinely reducing your particle count, not just the cholesterol weight reading.
A NATA-accredited pathology report with your ApoB result shown against the standard Australian reference range. Clear, not buried in jargon.
The same format used by hospitals and GPs across Australia. Delivered privately to your inbox.
Your ApoB result shown against the Australian standard range (0.4 to 1.20 g/L) so you immediately know where you sit.
Secure PDF to your inbox. Share with your GP or specialist, or act on the data yourself.
Apolipoprotein B is above the standard reference range, indicating an elevated number of atherogenic particles in circulation. ApoB is increasingly considered a sharper cardiovascular risk marker than LDL cholesterol alone, particularly when LDL appears normal. Discuss findings with your GP or cardiologist alongside your other lipid markers and overall risk profile.
We remove the barriers
Private ApoB testing without the GP gatekeeping, the waiting, or the referral hoops.
An overview of what Apolipoprotein B is, why it matters for cardiovascular health, and what your result means. Written for Australians considering a private ApoB blood test.
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a protein found on the surface of every atherogenic lipoprotein particle in your blood. That includes LDL (low-density lipoprotein), VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein), and Lp(a) — all the particles that can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries.
Here's the important part: each of these particles carries exactly one ApoB molecule. That means measuring ApoB gives you a direct count of the total number of plaque-forming particles in your blood. Think of LDL cholesterol as measuring the total weight of cargo carried by a fleet of ships. ApoB counts the ships themselves.
An estimated 1 in 6 people have normal LDL cholesterol but elevated ApoB, based on lipid discordance research, which means standard cholesterol testing alone can miss meaningful cardiovascular risk. When LDL and ApoB tell different stories, the research consistently shows that cardiovascular outcomes follow the ApoB number.
Apolipoprotein B is increasingly recognised by leading cardiologists and major guidelines, including those from the European Society of Cardiology, the European Atherosclerosis Society, and the National Lipid Association, as a sharper predictor of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol alone. Several major studies have shown that when LDL-C and ApoB disagree, ApoB is the more accurate predictor of future cardiovascular events.
The reason this matters in practice: someone with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or fatty liver disease can have apparently normal LDL cholesterol but a very high particle count. Their cardiovascular risk is significantly higher than their cholesterol test suggests. ApoB catches this, LDL doesn't.
This is also why ApoB is increasingly recommended for anyone with a family history of premature cardiovascular issues, anyone with metabolic concerns, anyone managing cholesterol with medication, and anyone in the longevity and preventive-health space looking for a cleaner picture of their cardiovascular trajectory.
ApoB is reported in g/L in Australian laboratories. The Australian standard reference range is approximately 0.4 to 1.20 g/L for adults, but cardiologists increasingly use lower thresholds depending on your overall cardiovascular risk:
| Result | Range | Risk category |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal (low risk) | Below 0.90 g/L | General low cardiovascular risk |
| Elevated risk target | Below 0.80 g/L | Target for those at elevated risk |
| High risk target | Below 0.65 g/L | Target for very high cardiovascular risk |
| Above standard range | Above 1.20 g/L | Increased cardiovascular risk |
If your result is above the standard range or above the target appropriate for your risk profile, it's worth discussing with your GP or cardiologist. Your ApoB number is best interpreted alongside your full lipid profile, family history, blood pressure, and other risk factors.
Testing ApoB is most useful for the following groups:
A standard cholesterol panel measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. These markers give you a useful starting picture, but they measure cholesterol weight rather than particle count. Here's how ApoB sits alongside them:
Most cardiologists looking to optimise cardiovascular care now check ApoB alongside or instead of LDL, with Lp(a) added once as a baseline.
The MediTests Apolipoprotein B blood test is a private, self-requested pathology test that you can buy online without a GP referral. The cost is $79, which covers the pathology request, the lab analysis at a NATA-accredited Australian laboratory, and your results delivered as a secure PDF report.
The process is simple: you complete checkout online and immediately receive a pathology request to your inbox, you walk into any of the 3,300+ Healius collection centres across Australia without an appointment, your blood sample is collected at the centre, and your results are typically delivered to your inbox within 24 to 72 hours of collection. Most results land within 24 to 48 hours, though specialised tests or certain states may take a little longer. No fasting is required for ApoB testing on its own.
The report includes your ApoB result alongside the Australian standard reference range so you can immediately see where your number sits. If you would like a deeper interpretation, the result is yours to share with your GP, cardiologist, or any other healthcare provider.
Get your private Apolipoprotein B blood test today. No GP referral. No appointment. Results typically in 24 to 72 hours.
Check My ApoB Levels, $79Sources & disclaimer
This information is general and educational, not medical advice. International cardiology guidelines (European Society of Cardiology, European Atherosclerosis Society, National Lipid Association) increasingly position ApoB as a sharper cardiovascular risk marker than LDL cholesterol alone; under the 2023 Australian CVD Risk Guideline, ApoB is not yet part of the routine risk calculator. ApoB is not currently covered by Medicare in Australia as part of the standard lipid panel. Reference ranges and risk thresholds may vary between laboratories. Please consult your GP or qualified healthcare professional for interpretation of your results in your individual clinical context.
Walk into any of 3,300+ collection centres across Australia. No GP. No referral. No appointment. Results typically in 24-72 hours. $79, one-off, no subscription.
Check My ApoB Levels, $79