title: [Precision and accuracy of the measurement of total cholesterol using the reflectometer Accutrend GC. Usefulness in primary care for diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the accuracy and precision of the Accutrend GC (AGC) in measuring cholesterol totals (CT) and its use as a screening test to detect hypercholesterolaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood was drawn from 104 patients to measure CT by an enzymatic method (Hitachi 717). At the same time, their capillary blood was also measured with the AGC on two consecutive occasions. Values were divided in three groupings: CT > 149 mg/dl and < or = 199 mg/dl (n = 27); CT > 199 mg/dl and < or = 249 mg/dl (n = 59); and CT > or = 250 mg/dl (n = 18). Accuracy was calculated by obtaining the mean differences (MD) and the confidence intervals of the values obtained with the AGC in the three groupings and comparing them with the values obtained by the laboratory method. Precision was assessed by correlation, the comparison of paired means and the mean coefficient of variation of the values obtained with the AGC in the two successive measurements. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: In each grouping the MD of the values obtained with the AGC were lower than those obtained by the laboratory method, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AGC is useful as a screening test to detect hypercholesterolaemia, because of its high accuracy and precision. As it also determines glucose it is very useful for diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Virgen de la Torre, Madrid.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: del Cañizo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Froilán
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Moreira-Andrés
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011934:Reagent Strips
chemical_list: D011934:Reagent Strips; D002784:Cholesterol
vernacular_title: Precisión y exactitud de la medida del colesterol total mediante el reflectómetro Accutrend GC. Aplicabilidad en atención primaria para la detección de hipercolesterolemias.