Improved estimation of cholesteryl ester transfer/exchange activity in serum or plasma.

This simple, routine assay for measuring cholesteryl ester transfer/exchange activity in human plasma is based on the removal of interfering lipoproteins--very-low-density (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL)--by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the samples do not affect the results. The supernate after precipitation is mixed with [14C]cholesteryl ester-labeled LDL as donor and with HDL as the acceptor for the cholesteryl ester. After incubation for 16 h at 37 degrees C, LDL is separated from HDL by precipitation with dextran sulfate and the radioactivity measured in the supernate, which contains the HDL. The assay is applicable to samples containing as much as 10 mmol of triglycerides per liter. The within-assay CV was 2.7%, the day-to-day CV 6.8%. Results compared well with those by conventional procedures.