Simple adaptation of the DuPont aca to allow high-density lipoprotein cholesterol determination.

A routine utilization review of our assay of high-density-lipoprotemn (HDL) cholesterol with a centrifugal analyzer (1) indicated that efficiency might be improved by an alternative HDL cholesterol method requiring less dedicated technologist time. The relatively few requests, coupled with our physicians’ expectation for turnaround, dictated that we could not use the centrifugal analyzer method efficiently. Accordingly, we made a simple adaptation of our DuPont aca (computer II with expansion modification; DuPont Co., Wilmington, DE 19898). By relacing an available aca channel for determination of cholesterol and then calibrating this modified channel to read in the concentration range 100-1400 mg/L, we adapted the aca to perform HDL cholesterol determinations without disrupting the total-cholesterol channel (2). With use of this adapted channel, the dedicated technologist time to complete an average HDL cholesterol assay run was decreased from 40 to 5 mm, not including time required for the precipitation step, which is the same for both methods. Details of the rather simple adaptation of the aca are provided for those who also may wish to consider such a change. Of the “free” channels available on our aca (LLDH, HBDH, Amy, and PCHE), the LLDH channel required the least lacing changes for this conversion to HDL cholesterol. Accordingly, the LLDH channel (no. 18) was relaced to match the channel for total cholesterol, except for two differences: (a) the “filling station control board” lacing was changed so that the diluent was drawn Designation Blank H D L