Cardio IQ Lp-PLA2 Activity Test
The Cardio IQ Lp-PLA2 Activity test measures the activity of Lp-PLA2, an enzyme associated with inflammation in blood vessels. Clinicians use it as one input in cardiovascular risk assessment, interpreted alongside a person's history, lifestyle, and other markers rather than on its own.
About this test
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, usually shortened to Lp-PLA2, is an enzyme that clinicians connect specifically to inflammation within the walls of blood vessels. Unlike a broad, whole-body inflammation marker, Lp-PLA2 is thought to reflect vascular inflammation more directly, which is why it appears in advanced cardiovascular risk conversations.
The Cardio IQ Lp-PLA2 Activity test is done with a simple blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and the sample goes to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- Some include it as part of a wider advanced cardiovascular workup, while others add it specifically for its focus on vascular inflammation.
Test details
| Quest code | 94218 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Enzymatic Assay |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Patient preparation | Fast before your blood draw if you can; water is fine. |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test looks at
The test measures how active the Lp-PLA2 enzyme is in the blood. Because clinicians associate this enzyme with inflammation in the vessel wall specifically, it is often described as a vascular-inflammation marker rather than a general one. That focus is what distinguishes it from broader inflammation tests that reflect the whole body.
It also helps to remember what Lp-PLA2 is not: it is not a stand-alone verdict on cardiovascular health, and it is not something a person interprets alone. It is one advanced marker among several, which is why a single result is read as a piece of a larger risk picture rather than a conclusion.
How it's often used alongside other tests
Lp-PLA2 activity is generally ordered as part of an advanced cardiovascular evaluation rather than in isolation. A clinician often reads it alongside lipid markers such as LDL and HDL cholesterol, advanced particle markers like ApoB or Lp(a), and general inflammation markers. Because vascular inflammation is only one thread in cardiovascular risk, seeing it together with the others gives a clinician far more context than any single marker can on its own.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Lp-PLA2 Activity test measure?
It measures the activity of Lp-PLA2, an enzyme clinicians associate with inflammation in the walls of blood vessels. It is used as one input in cardiovascular risk assessment.
How is Lp-PLA2 different from a general inflammation marker?
General inflammation markers reflect inflammation anywhere in the body, while Lp-PLA2 is associated more specifically with vascular inflammation. Clinicians consider that focus when deciding whether it adds useful context.
Is this an advanced or a routine test?
It is an advanced cardiovascular marker rather than a routine first look. It tends to come up when someone wants more depth than a standard panel provides, often under a clinician's guidance.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Can this test alone assess my cardiovascular risk?
No single marker establishes cardiovascular risk on its own. A clinician reads Lp-PLA2 activity together with other markers, history, and lifestyle to build a fuller picture.
Can I get the Cardio IQ Lp-PLA2 Activity test without a doctor's visit or insurance?
Yes. The $109 cash price includes an independent physician's order, so no referral is needed, and insurance is never involved.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Fast before your blood draw if you can; water is fine. This is the preparation Quest publishes for this test; if your clinician gives you different instructions, follow theirs.