Validation of a point of care lipid analyser using a hospital based reference laboratory.
BACKGROUND
Lipid measurements are essential in cardiovascular disease management in primary care. However, utilizing hospital laboratories may result in excess patient travel, sample loss and repeat clinic visits. Point of care (POC) lipid measurement would overcome these difficulties but has not been validated in an Irish setting.


OBJECTIVE
To compare POC lipid profile measurements using a cholestech LDX analyser with a hospital reference laboratory (Lab).


METHODS
One-hundred subjects (30 men, 70 women) participated. Finger prick and venous samples were analysed directly by Cholestech LDX and the Lab.


RESULTS
A broad range of lipid values were measured. Absolute differences between POC and Lab measurements were insignificant except for a small over-estimation by the POC method of triglyceride 0.25 mmol/l (95% CI 0.17 to 0.24), and an underestimation of HDLc - 0.11 mmol/l (95% CI - 0.143 to -0.078). There were significant correlations between POC and Lab. levels; total cholesterol r=0.92, triglyceride r=0.93, HDLc r=0.92 and LDLc r=0.86 (all p< 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results validate the use of the Cholestech LDX analyser for point of care lipid measurements in clinical practice, provided well trained operators are supported by a hospital laboratory delivering quality assurance support.
Carey
M
M
Depts of Cardiology and Chemical Pathology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Markham
C
C
Gaffney
P
P
Boran
C
C
Maher
V
V
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol