AN EVALUATION OF THE REFLOTRON(R) FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PLASMA-CHOLESTEROL IN CAPILLARY BLOOD - EFFECT OF OPERATOR VARIABILITY

The availability of portable analysers potentially puts the detection of individuals with high serum cholesterol levels on a similar footing to that of high blood pressure. The Reflotron(R), which can make chol esterol measurements on capillary blood samples without the need for c entrifugation, has been evaluated in clinical practice. In 94 consecut ive patients capillary blood was used for the determination of serum c holesterol by the Reflotron, by a laboratory technician (n = 37) and b y a nursing sister (n = 57). Venous blood was also taken from the same patients within a few minutes of the capillary sample for enzymic det ermination of serum cholesterol at the hospital laboratory, Overall, t he Reflotron values were about 0.6 mmol/l lower than those obtained at the hospital laboratory. The accuracy and precision of the results ob tained by the nurse were poorer than those obtained by the technician, even though the nurse had attended a three day training course. Our r esults indicate that the Reflotron is a suitable instrument for use in screening for serum cholesterol, provided personnel operating the mac hine have adequate training and experience, and provided it is borne i n mind that the results obtained may be slightly lower than standard l aboratory methods.