[Performance and limitations of the analysis of HDL-cholesterol (author's transl)]

Comparing published data, three methods for HDL-cholesterol determination (phosphotungstate/MgCl2, dextran sulphate 500/MgCl2 and heparin/MnCl2) are reviewed with respect to accuracy, precision, sensitivity and liability to interference. All three methods are specific (complete precipitation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein) and sufficiently sensitive (only significant coprecipitation of HDL). A disadvantage of the heparin/MnCl2 method is incomplete precipitation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein in hypertriglyceridemic sera. Limitations of the diagnostic value of HDL-cholesterol analysis are discussed.