Evaluation of light-scattering index (nephelometry) for assessing serum triglycerides and lipoprotein phenotypes.

Light-scattering measurements (nephelometry) of serum after filtration through appropriate filters is a rapid method for physically determining triglyceride concentrations and lipoprotein phenotypes. A correlation coefficient of greater than 0.9 was obtained when aliquots of the same specimen were tested for triglycerides by light scattering in an Aminco-Bowman Spectrophotofluorometer and by a chemical (Van Handel and Zilversmit) method. Lipoprotein phenotyping by agarose gel electrophoresis and by light-scattering measurement corresponded excellently. In equivocal cases, nephelometric results agreed better with the triglyceride and cholesterol data than did the electrophoretic method.