Apolipoprotein E Genotyping
Other names: Apo E Genotyping
Apolipoprotein E is one of the five main types of lipid protein; it is produced by the liver and brain. Apo E is responsible for transporting lipids around the body (from where they are produced to where they are stored) and transporting cholesterol from the organs to the liver, so that it can be excreted.
Why is the test used?
The Apo E test is not a common test; doctors usually use other types of test. However, the test may be useful under the following circumstances:
- In the assessment of a patient who may be at risk of cardiovascular disease; this test can help doctors to measure the efficacy of treatment.
- To diagnose Type III hyperlipoproteinemia (also known as familial dysbetalipoproteinemia)
- To help with the diagnosis of late onset Alzheimer’s disease
The doctor will usually order this test when they suspect that a patient has inherited high cholesterol or triglyceride levels or when they notice symptoms of progressive dementia consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.
How is the test done?
The Apo E test is done using a blood sample, which is collected from a vein in the arm. The needle is inserted into a vein in the arm (usually on the inside of the elbow) and the sample is collected in a syringe. Once the sample has been collected, it can be bottled, labelled and sent away to the laboratory for analysis.
What do the test results mean?
Apo E genotyping examines which types of Apo E are present in the blood; there are three different forms, e2, e3 and e4. Every person inherits a combination of these forms and the e3/e3 is the most common genotype.
The presence of different combinations may indicate different health conditions; as follows:
- E2/e2 alleles may mean there is a higher risk of vascular disease (however they may never actually develop the disease)
- E4/e4 alleles may indicate a higher risk of atherosclerosis (this is when fatty deposits collect on the inside of the arteries)
- E4 alleles may indicate a hugher risk of Alzheimer’s disease; however, this test should not be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s and doctors will order further tests in order to reach an accurate diagnosis
Specific Blood Tests
- Specific Blood Tests
- Factor V Leiden Mutation and PT 20210 Mutation
- Ferritin Test
- Fibrinogen
- Fructosamine
- FSH Test
- G6PD
- Gastrin
- GGT
- Glucose test
- Growth hormone
- Haemoglobin
- Haptoglobin
- HbA1c test
- HDL Cholesterol Test
- Helicobacter Pylori test
- Heparin Anti-Xa
- Hepatitis A Virus
- Hepatitis B Virus
- Hepatitis C Virus
- Her-2/neu Testing
- Heterophil Antibody Titre
- High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein
- HIV Antibody Test
- HIV Resistance Testing
- HIV Viral Load
- IGF-1
- Immunoreactive Trypsin
- Insulin
- Iron test
- LDH
- LDL Cholesterol Test
- Lead Test
- LH Test
- Lipase Test
- Lipoprotein (a)
- Lithium
- Lupus Anticoagulant
- Lyme disease test
- Maternal screening
- Mercury, Urine and Blood
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Myoglobin Test
- Oestrogen
- Osmolality
- Overdose Drug Test
- Paracetamol
- Parathyroid Hormone
- Parvovirus B19
- PCV
- Pertussis
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Phospate
- Platelet Count
- Porphyrins
- Potassium Test
- Prealbumin Test
- Procalcitonin
- Progesterone Test
- Prolactin
- Prostate-Specific Antigen
- Protein 24 Capsid Antigen
- Protein C and Protein S
- Protein Electrophoresis Immunofixation Electrophoresis
- Prothrombin Time
- PSEN1 Test
- PTH
- Reticulocyte count
- Rheumatoid factor
- Rubella test
- Salicylic Acid
- Serotonin
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
- Sickle Cell Test
- Sirolimus
- Smooth Muscle Antibody
- Sodium Test
- Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides
- Synacthen Test
- Syphilis Test
- Tacrolimus
- Tau protein
- Testosterone Test
- Theophylline & Caffeine
- Thiopurine s-methyltransferase
- Thyroglobulin (Tg)
- Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)
- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
- Thyroxine
- TIBC, UIBC & Transferring
- TORCH Test
- Total Protein test
- Triiodothyronine
- Triglycerides Test
- Troponin test
- Urea test
- Uric Acid
- Valproic Acid
- Vancomycin
- Very Low Density Lipoprotein
- Vitamin B12 and Folate
- Vitamin D
- West Nile Virus
- White blood cell differential count
- Zinc Protoporphyrin
- Activated Clotting Time
- ACTH
- Albumin
- Aldosterone and Renin
- Alkaline Phosphatase Test
- Allergen-Specific IgE Antibody Test
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
- Alpha-Fetoprotein
- ALT
- AMA
- Ammonia
- Amylase Test
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
- Antinuclear Antibody
- Antithrombin
- Apolipoprotein A-I
- Apolipoprotein E Genotyping
- aPTT
- AST
- Bicarbonate
- Bilirubin
- Blood cultures
- Blood film
- Blood Gas Tests
- Blood Ketones
- Brain Natriuretic Peptide
- BRCA-1 & BRCA-2
- CA 125
- Cancer Antigen 15-3
- Cancer Antigen 19-9
- C-peptide
- Caeruloplasmin
- Calcitonin
- Calcium Test
- Carbamazepine
- Cardiac Risk Assessment
- Cardiolipin Antobodies
- Catecholamines, Plasma and Urine
- CCP
- CD4 and CD8
- CEA Test
- CF Gene Mutation Testing
- Chickenpox and Shingles Tests
- Chloride Test
- Cholesterol Test
- Chlorinesterase Test
- Chromogranin A
- Ciclosporin
- CMV
- Coagulation Factors
- Coeliac Disease Tests
- Copper
- Cortisol Test
- Creatine Kinase CK-MB Test
- Creatine Kinase Test
- Creatinine
- Creatinine Clearance
- C-Reactive Protein
- Cystatin C
- D-Dimer
- DHEAS
- Digoxin
- Direct LDL cholesterol
- eGFR - Calc. Creatinine Clearance
- Electrolytes
- Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Erythropoietin
- Ethanol
Blood Test Guide
- Blood Tests
- Types of blood tests
- what to expect
- What are the risks of blood tests?
- What do blood tests show?
- Specific Blood Tests