Advanced cholesterol tests may not be necessary

In order for a person to know if a prescription to buy Lipitor is right for them, they need to have their cholesterol levels checked. However, these days there are a number of new and less proven procedures for measuring cholesterol in the body that experts say may not be worth their price.

For example, Marc Gillinov and Seven Nissen, two Cleveland Clinic cardiologists, told USA Today that many doctors today order VAP and NMR cholesterol tests. These procedures purport to offer a more complete picture of a person's cholesterol levels, but the experts said that they offer little relevant information that is not already found in standard cholesterol tests.

The tests measure the size of cholesterol particles, which some have suggested may play a role in stroke and heart attack risk. However, there is relatively little clinical evidence to suggest that either one of these tests improves treatment outcomes.

The American Heart Association recommends that individuals with no obvious cardiovascular risk factors should undergo standard cholesterol testing every five years. Those with other risk factors like a family history of heart disease may want to have their cholesterol checked more often, but there is little need to undergo more advanced tests.