Point-of-care (POC) blood testing is intended to provide
results more rapidly than can be obtained from a central
laboratory. Precision and accuracy of the CardioChek
PA and Cholestech LDX analysers were compared to
clinical diagnostic laboratory methods. In 100 patients,
total cho lesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol
(HDL-C) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were measured
by both analysers and compared to those analysed by
the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) laboratory.
Data were evaluated for conformance with National
Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. Results were grouped into low, middle and high ranges
and were similar to those obtained by the NHLS, except
in the high range where TC and LDL-C levels were
under-read by both analysers. All analytes measured
by both analysers correlated significantly with NHLS
(p < 0.0001). With the exception of LDL-C, both analysers
showed reasonable compliance with NCEP goals for
coefficients of variation and bias measurements. Both
analysers met NCEP guidelines for all analytes at two
clinical cut-off points. We concluded that, compared to NHLS methods,
performance of the CardioChek PA and Cholestech LDX
analysers is acceptable and that they offer healthcare
professionals a rapid, POC method for the measurement
of lipids.