Improved specificity of a new homogeneous assay for LDL-cholesterol in serum with abnormal lipoproteins.
BACKGROUND
Although a homogeneous assay for serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) has become a routine clinical procedure, problems remain in assay performance characteristics.


METHODS
We examined the performance of a recently developed automated homogeneous assay (New-Daiichi assay) for serum LDL-C and compared the results with those obtained by the current homogeneous method (Denka-Seiken assay) or by ultracentrifugation as a control.


RESULTS
The New-Daiichi assay showed satisfactory basic performance characteristics such as reproducibility, linearity, and stability. There was no interference in the assay by various substances examined. The LDL-C values obtained with this method correlated well with those obtained by ultracentrifugation. In samples from patients with obstructive jaundice, both methods detected cholesterol from abnormal lipoproteins (such as lipoprotein-X and -Y), but the New-Daiichi assay was less reactive and more specific for LDL-C.


CONCLUSIONS
The new method has improved performance for the accurate measurement of LDL-C in clinical practice.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. iwasaki@med.kochi-u.ac.jp
Yasumasa
Y
Iwasaki
Hiroyuki
H
Matsuyama
Nobuo
N
Nakashima
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood; D008073:Lipoprotein-X / Q000097:blood*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008073:Lipoprotein-X