The method of determination must be considered in interpreting blood cholesterol levels
D. W. Blank, J. M. Hoeg, M. H. Kroll and M. E. Ruddel
Based on the results of recent clinical trials, physicians have been
encouraged to screen and treat patients for hypercholesterolemia. Since the
data from the Lipid Research Clinics (LRC) have been used to define the
patient population that should be treated, a comparison of LRC cholesterol
results with those obtained with two commonly used clinical laboratory
instruments was performed. Both the Technicon SMAC and the Du Pont aca had
positive bias compared with the LRC method. Therefore, many patients with
cholesterol concentrations greater than 265 mg/dL (6.85 mmol/L) as
determined by these routinely used methods have markedly lower levels
determined by LRC methods. These findings not only indicate that rigorous
interlaboratory standardization is required to conform to LRC reference
values, but they also suggest that the clinician should be aware of these
methodological considerations when the decision to treat
hypercholesterolemia is made.