Determination of high density lipoprotein cholesterol: comparison of two precipitation methods and their applicability to clinical samples.

Abstract Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as measured by the sodium phosphotungstate — magnesium chloride precipitation method on the one hand and the sodium dextran sulphate 500 — magnesium chloride precipitation method on the other, were compared with each other. Similar values were obtained by both methods. This applies as well for normolipemic as for hyperlipemic sera. Addition of a mixture of the precipitating agents instead of the separate agents to the sera also yielded similar values. Lower values for the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level were obtained by the sodium phosphotungstate —magnesium chloride method when working at 4°C instead of at 22° C. Whereas serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was not influenced by meals or an overnight fast, definitely lower values were observed after prolonged fasting,