A lipid profile, or lipid panel, is a blood test to check your lipid levels. Lipids are fats that cannot dissolve in blood. High lipid levels increase your risk for heart disease and a heart attack or stroke. A lipid profile includes the following: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL & LDL. HDL cholesterol is often referred to as good cholesterol while LDL cholesterol is often referred to as bad cholesterol. Lipoprotein(a), shortned to Lp(a), is another lipid test that correlates with risk for cardiovascular disease.