Cholesterol in Serum and Lipoprotein Fractions

Abstract

Abstract 1. Methods are described for the separation, by paper electrophoresis and by cold ethanol, of α- and β-lipoproteins in 0.1 ml. of serum, with subsequent analysis of cholesterol in the separated portions. 2. It is shown that both methods of separation yield separated fractions containing substantially the same amounts of cholesterol. 3. Detailed data are given on the errors of measurement for total cholesterol and for cholesterol in the separated lipoprotein fractions. 4. Studies are reported on the stability of cholesterol in stored serum and on paper electrophoresis strips. It is shown that simple drying on filter paper causes no change in cholesterol content and yields a product that is stable for many weeks at ordinary room temperature. 5. The sources of variability in human serum cholesterol values are examined and it is shown that spontaneous intraindividual variability is a much greater source of error than the errors of measurement with these methods.