[Critical aspects of actual methods for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol quantitation]

In this study we compare various methods for h;igh-density-lipoprotein cholesterol quantitation: ultracentrifugation; electrophoresis either on cellulose acetate or on agarose gel; precipitation methods with polyanions-bivalent cations; adsorption procedure using concanavalin A (Con A). quantification by electrophoresis is slow and not precise. Except heparin-Mn++ and dextran (MM 5 X 10(5) and 2 X 10(6)) - CaCl2 procedures, precipitation and Con A methods own a good repeatability (VC 2%) and give a linear response after VLDL or LDL-VLDL addition to tested sera. Regression analysis of the data obtained using these methods in pairs demonstrate a correct accuracy (r > 0.95). The Student t-test shows that the usual values must be evaluated for each method. We suggest to use either phosphotungstate - Mg++ or Con A procedure as method for HDL cholesterol quantitation.