An optically clear hypercholesterolemic hypertriglyceridemic quality-control material prepared from animal lipid...

A hyperlipidemic control serum can be simple prepared from animal lipid sources. Beta- and pre-beta-lipoproteins containing cholesterol and triglyceride are removed from porcine serum by treatment with dextran sulfate and calcium ions. A triglyceride-rich fraction containing only trace amounts of cholesterol is isolated from chicken egg-yolks. The two fractions are then combined in 40 mmol/L sodium bicarbonate to give the desired values for cholesterol and triglyceride. The preparation is stabilized against surface denaturation during long-term storage at 5 degrees C perhaps for as long as two years, by adding 0.25 g of Triton X-100 surfactant per liter, and against an accidental exposure to short-term freezing by adding 10 g of sucrose per liter. We used this solution as a diluent to reconstitute lyophilized bovine serum. The resulting product, having been prepared from only animal sources, is free of hepatitis-associated constituents, and is remarkably clear, homogeneous, and stable. Results obtained with it are precise.