Borderline question clarification needed

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Please help me understand this question. The questions is:

What cholesterol level is classified as "borderline?"

A) 180 to 199 mg/dL

B) 200 to 239 mg/dL

C) > 240 mg/dL

D) > 300 mg/dL

The answer with rationale is: B) 200 to 239 mg/dL Total cholesterol levels should be

My question: Borderline means that they are on the border, but not quite there yet. If the patient has a cholesterol of 200 or above, then they have crossed the border of 200. In other words, after reaching the number 200, the patient should be diagnosed with hypercholesteremia. They are not almost there, they are already there. Can anyone help me understand why B is the correct answer considering what I have just stated.

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I was taught normal is under 200, borderline is 200-239, high is greater than 240.

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Specializes in Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Internal Medicine.

Nurse love, I actually ran across this question in one of my study applications. I had the same understanding and rationale. I would just really like some understanding of why as well.

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