title: Lipid and lipoprotein testing in resource-limited laboratories.
abstract: The role of total cholesterol (TC) and lipoproteins in the assessment of coronary heart disease (CHD) is firmly established from population and intervention studies. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels are positively associated with CHD, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) levels are negatively associated with CHD. Efforts to identify and treat people at increased risk based on cholesterol and lipoprotein levels have led to more lipid testing and the need for very reliable test results. Thus, quality laboratory services are an essential component of healthcare delivery and play a vital role in any strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality from CHD. In laboratories with limited resources, establishing laboratory capability to measure CHD risk markers may be a considerable challenge. Laboratories face problems in selecting proper techniques, difficulties in equipment availability and maintenance, and shortage of supplies, staffing, and supervision. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been providing technical assistance for more than 30 years to laboratories that measure lipids and lipoproteins and is willing to provide technical assistance as needed for other laboratories to develop this capability. CDC can provide technical assistance to establish lipid and lipoprotein testing capability to support a CHD public health program in areas with limited laboratory resources. This assistance includes: selecting a suitable testing instrument; providing training for laboratory technicians; establishing a simple quality control plan; and instructing staff on how to prepare frozen serum control materials suitable for assessing accuracy of lipid and lipoprotein testing.
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000191:economics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000592:standards; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D010175:Pan American Health Organization; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011786:Quality Control; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins