- Nearly 2 in 3 diagnostic bookings at Redcliffe Labs are preventive, yet the five most-booked tests nationally remain largely routine health checks.
- Redcliffe Labs’ analysis of over 2.4 lakh individuals finds abnormalities across key cardiovascular markers in nearly 1 in 2, highlighting the need to look beyond routine testing and act on identified risks.
New Delhi, 29 September 2026: India is testing more proactively than ever. At Redcliffe Labs, nearly 2 in 3 diagnostic bookings are preventive rather than illness-driven, indicating that people are increasingly choosing to check their health before symptoms appear. But when it comes to the heart, the bigger question is: are we testing for the cardiac risks that matter?
Redcliffe Labs’ national data shows that its Top 5 most-booked tests are CBC, Lipid Profile, Kidney Function Test (KFT), Liver Function Test (LFT), and HbA1c. These tests provide important insights into overall health, but routine testing alone cannot fully capture cardiovascular risk.
WHO identifies raised blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, and overweight/obesity as key metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease, while unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use are major behavioral contributors. These risk factors can coexist long before a cardiovascular event occurs.
The gap becomes clearer in Redcliffe Labs’ six-month analysis of more than 2.4 lakh individuals. Nearly 1 in 2 showed abnormalities across key cardiovascular markers, including cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, hs-CRP, NT-proBNP, and hs-Troponin I. Among men over 26, 48% had abnormal results, rising to nearly 52% among men over 40. These findings reflect abnormal test results, not confirmed cardiovascular disease, but they highlight why routine tests or symptoms alone cannot assess heart health.
The Heart Check Has to Go Beyond the Lipid Profile
“A normal or acceptable cholesterol reading should not automatically be interpreted as a clean chit for heart health. Cardiovascular risk depends on multiple factors, and for people with relevant risk factors, looking beyond the conventional Lipid Profile can provide a more complete picture. Markers such as Lp(a), ApoB and hs-CRP can offer additional insights in appropriate individuals. The focus should be on understanding individual risk and identifying the right markers, not simply doing more tests,” said Dr. Sonal Saxena, Director – Lab Operations, Redcliffe Labs.
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is largely determined by genetics and can independently increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, even when standard LDL cholesterol is not markedly elevated. The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline recommends measuring Lp(a) at least once and identifies levels of 125 nmol/L (50 mg/dL) or higher as a risk-enhancing factor; levels of 250 nmol/L (100 mg/dL) or higher are associated with at least twice the estimated cardiovascular risk.
Other markers can add context. ApoB reflects the number of atherogenic particles and can help refine risk assessment in people with elevated triglycerides or diabetes, while hs-CRP can provide information about inflammation. Markers such as hs-Troponin I and NT-proBNP have more specific clinical uses, including assessing heart-muscle injury or cardiac strain when clinically indicated.
Acting on the Reports Is Where Prevention Begins
“We know the problem is not only identifying health risks; it is helping people act on them,” said Aditya Kandoi, Founder & CEO, Redcliffe Labs. “That is why we introduced 4X Value with every test. A diagnostic test should go beyond generating a report; it should help people understand important health risks and take the next step. Through personalized diet and wellness support, we aim to help people move from knowing their risk to acting on their health. If we identify a problem but do not help people change what they can, we have only completed half the journey.”
Through “Missing the Mishaps,” Redcliffe Labs is using World Heart Day to encourage a shift from simply getting tested to understanding cardiovascular risk, acting on the findings, and making prevention part of everyday healthcare.
Prevention does not end with getting tested. It begins with knowing the risks, understanding what the numbers mean, and acting before a warning becomes a mishap.
