If you can’t get a direct ApoB measurement — they’re still not routinely available in many labs — you can estimate it reasonably well from a standard cholesterol panel. The calculator below gives two estimates. The first uses your LDL-C and triglycerides, from an equation derived and validated in more than 73,000 adults (Cho et al., 2012). The second uses your total and HDL cholesterol, from a non-HDL-C equivalence equation (Hermans et al., 2011) — that one was derived in a small group of people with diabetes, so treat it as the rougher of the two.
When to use this
This is an estimate, not a measurement. If you can get a direct ApoB blood test, do that — it’s cheap, increasingly available, and far more accurate. Use this estimator when direct ApoB isn’t accessible, or when you want a sense of where you sit before requesting one.
Once you have an estimated ApoB number, you can plug it into the ApoB percentile calculator to see how it compares to the general population — and read how to lower your ApoB if you want to bring it down.
Frequently asked questions
Can you estimate ApoB from a standard lipid panel?
Yes. When a direct ApoB measurement is not available, it can be estimated reasonably well from your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride numbers using a validated equation. A direct measurement is still preferable where you can get one.
Is estimated ApoB as good as a measured ApoB?
An estimate is a useful stand-in when no direct test is available, but it is less reliable — especially when triglycerides are high. If your estimated ApoB is borderline or high, ask for a directly measured ApoB.