Despite reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the past 20 years, CVD remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for ~1 of every 3 deaths. CVD costs the U.S. over $100 billion annually and is an important field for targeted primary and secondary prevention. Dyslipidemia, particularly a high low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor, and fasting lipid panels (including total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) are included in the recent 2013 ACC/AHA Risk Assessment Guidelines. Clinical trials have shown that low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statin therapy predicts cardiovascular event reduction. About a quarter of all adults >45 years old were on statin therapy in 2008, and this will likely increase due to the recent 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Management guidelines. These guidelines recommend statin therapy in all patients with clinical atherosclerotic CVD, all patients with LDL-C = 190 mg/dL, patients age 40-75 years with diabetes and LDL-C 70-189 mg/dL, and patients with an estimated 10-year atherosclerotic CVD risk = 7.5%. For all of these patients, a fasting lipid panel should be drawn prior to statin initiation as well as during follow-up to assess medication and lifestyle adherence. These fasting lipid panels are obtained via conventional phlebotomy via venopuncture in an office-based or hospital laboratory setting.