Why the study?
Are there significant differences between EDTA-plasma and serum measurements of cholesterol and triglycerides across different analytical methods?
Are there significant differences between EDTA-plasma and serum measurements of cholesterol and triglycerides across different analytical methods?
Differences between EDTA-plasma and serum lipid measurements vary by analytical method and can lead to significant biases in computed cardiovascular disease risk.
Method-specific plasma-serum lipid differences may bias computed CVD risk; leaves open need for standardized assays and reference intervals.
To investigate EDTA-plasma/serum (P/S) differences, we collected paired samples from 25 volunteers and measured total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), using the Cobas FARA, Ektachem 700, DuPont Dimension, and Baxter Paramax Analyzers. The mean (SD) P/S ratios for TC, HDLC, and TG concentrations were, respectively: 0.980 (0.0171), 1.063 (0.0704), and 0.961 (0.363) for Paramax; 0.976 (0.0189), 1.034 (0.1091), and 0.950 (0.557) for Dimension; 1.003 (0.0221), 1.059 (0.0304), and 0.988 (0.0179) for Ektachem; and 0.993 (0.0162), 1.063 (0.0830), and 1.013 (0.0410) for Cobas. We conclude that P/S ratios vary by analytical methods, and that HDLC ratios tend to be larger in magnitude and in the opposite direction from TC and TG. Both effects lead to significant biases in computed disease risk.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Beheshti et al. (1994) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: