Open AccessOverestimation of HDL‐cholesterol using a homogeneous “Direct” assay
Author(s) -
Zhao Wei,
Chaffin Carolyn,
Desmond Renee A.,
Hodges Bruce,
Daly Thomas M.,
Andrew Robinson C.,
Hardy Robert W.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.20000
Subject(s) - homogeneous , cholesterol , chromatography , chemistry , total cholesterol , computer science , mathematics , biochemistry , combinatorics
Direct HDL‐cholesterol (HDLc) assays have several advantages over other assays that are more laborious and time‐consuming. A recent College of American Pathologists (CAP) report indicates that at least 385 Beckman LX‐20 analyzers use the selective detergent (homogeneous or direct) method for analyzing HDLc. There is no published evaluation of direct HDLc assays on the Beckman platform. Here we report our evaluation of a direct HDLc assay marketed by Beckman for the Beckman LX‐20 analyzers. In general, the assay performed well; however, the total error was not within National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. This was largely because of a significant positive bias that appeared to be due, at least in part, to triglycerides. This bias was worse at HDLc concentrations <40 mg/dL, which may make it difficult to identify a low HDLc concentration and consequently an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:42–44, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.