Lp-PLA2 optimal range and reference range
Compiled by Alina Radu, founder of Sera, from the published sources below · Last reviewed November 9, 2026
Sera's bands for Lp-PLA2:
- Optimal 0 – 225 nmol/min/mL; out of range above 225 nmol/min/mL.
Evidence grade: Published reference interval. A band that primarily reflects a published adult laboratory or population reference interval. It is not necessarily applicable to every assay or laboratory.
All units
| Unit | Optimal | Sufficient | Out of range |
|---|---|---|---|
| nmol/min/mL | 0 – 225 | — | above 225 |
No separate Sufficient band is currently defined for this marker.
Bounded on the high side only — a low result is not treated as out of range. The cleared assay defines only a raised result.
What the evidence says
The band ends at 225 nmol/min/mL, the cleared activity assay's own cut-off, and there is no narrower optimal band because nothing published supports one. Vascular-specific in a way hsCRP is not: it rises with plaque inflammation rather than systemic inflammation, which is why the two are not substitutes. Sera bands the activity assay only; the mass assay reports ng/mL on an unrelated scale.
Assay: Results differ meaningfully between platforms and methods. Compare against the interval printed by the issuing laboratory before acting on a borderline value.
Sources
- Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 Activity — reference range — Labcorp, 2026 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceReduced risk below 225 nmol/min/mL, increased risk at 225 or above: the cleared activity assay's single cut-off, and the edge Sera's band ends on.
What Lp-PLA2 Activity measures
The activity of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, an enzyme produced within atherosclerotic plaque.
Vascular-specific in a way hsCRP is not: it rises with plaque inflammation rather than with systemic inflammation generally, so the two answer different questions. Sera supports the activity assay only — the mass assay reports in ng/mL on an unrelated scale and is a different measurement.