Advantages and disadvantages of nephelometric measurement of serum lipids.

Several technical difficulties diminish the usefulness of serum triglyceride estimation by the method of Stone and Thorp [C/in. Chim. Acta 14, 812 (1966)]. An artificial and somewhat unstable material is used in the standardization. Falsely elevated readings caused by scratched cuvettes are a frequent problem. Conventional quality-control procedures cannot be used because stable preparations are not available. Specimen stability is a greater problem than with conventional chemical methods. In spite of these difficulties, the method can be useful, if its limitations are recognized, in measurements made on nonfasting individuals.