Recommendations for Improving Cholesterol Measurement: A Report from the Laboratory Standardization Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program

摘要

The present report is designed to provide detailed recommendations for three specific groups: instrument-reagent manufacturers, the clinical laboratories, and those who use desk-top analyzers. Step-by-step guidelines on how to implement the standardization of cholesterol measurement are provided. National resources have been described in sufficient detail to allow the user to access the resources, thereby ensuring more reliable cholesterol measurement through the standardization program. The report outlines the technical and organizational elements needed to ensure the overall reliability of cholesterol measurement. In addition, details are provided on preanalytical and analytical factors that affect cholesterol values. A detailed rationale explains why the 'ideal' laboratory goals for precision and bias of greater than or equal to 3 percent should be achieved in order for cholesterol measurements to provide relevant information for the clinician. The report is intended to inform both the laboratorians and clinicians about how to improve the reliability of cholesterol measurements and to appreciate the physiological and environmental factors that affect cholesterol values independent of the analytical factors.