re: Just had my annual physical and got my blood panel back

I wanted an advanced panel because it provides more, better information - which should help you decide whether to take a statin or not. All current research points to Apo-B being a better indicator of potential cardiovascular risk than any of the traditional measurements. Standard panels provide zero information on Lp(a) levels, which are shown to affect risk.

In my case, the standard panel showed I was a borderline case of FH. The advanced panel put my markers as much more mixed - some in range, some just barely out of range. Again I prefer to have more and better information in any situation...but especially here at a relatively minor cost compared to all the money spend on health.