Lipid profile in ambulatory subjects using 3 point-of-care devices and comparison with reference methods

Plasma lipid measurements are widely used for screening and control of dyslipemias. Point-of-care (POC) devices could facilitate these analyses, but results should be comparable with those of reference methods. Analytical performance of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels has been evaluated in 3 different POC systems: CardioChek (Polymer Technology Systems, Indianapolis, Ind), Accutrend GCT (existing version; Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland), and Accutrend Plus (new version; Roche Diagnostics). Because CardioChek allows high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) determination and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) level calculation, these parameters were also evaluated. One hundred one samples for TC and 102 for TG were analyzed using Accutrend devices; and 109, using CardioChek. For TC, the total error based on the control material was 8.5% for Accutrend Plus, 8.9% for Accutrend GCT, and 25.1% for CardioChek. Prediction of bias at 5.17 mmol/L based on the patient samples was -7.5%, -6.0%, and 20.0%, respectively. For TG, the total error was 10.3% for Accutrend Plus, 6.9% for Accutrend GCT, and 14% for CardioChek, whereas prediction of bias at 1.69 mmol/L was 5.4%, 11.5%, and -8.5, respectively. For HDL-c, the total error of CardioChek was 18.4% and the prediction of bias at 1.16 mmol/L was -3.4%. For LDL-c, the prediction of bias for CardioChek was 32.5% at 2.59 mmol/L. All the 3 devices correctly classified a high percentage of dyslipemic patients. However, CardioChek classified 48% of normolipemic patients as hypercholesterolemic. In conclusion, although CardioChek could be valid for TG and HDL-c determinations, it clearly overestimates TC and LDL-c. On the other hand, Accutrend devices are useful for TC and TG measurements and may be suitable for screening and dyslipemia control. Copyright © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.