These Visual Cholesterol strips are used to determine the amount of cholesterol in one's blood to provide prevention and early diagnosis of vascular and coronary heart disease. It gives a semi-quantitative determination. A patient can take the test, however the doctor must interpret the results to give necessary feedback on therapy or dietary needs based on the results. The cholesterol concentration is measured by comparison with a comparative card in the range of 150-400 mg/dl. This test is useful for monitoring cholesterolemia in people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and familiar hypercholesterolemia. People who smoke, drink alcohol, are overweight, eat a fatty diet, or do not exercise regularly are recommended to have their blood cholesterol concentration checked. It is also recommended for those with familiar cases of heart disease before the age of 60. This test should not replace the quantitative method for the determination of blood cholesterol.