Reflotron cholesterol measurement evaluated as a screening technique.

We evaluated the analytical performance of Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics' "Reflotron" analyzer for the measurement of cholesterol. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for whole-blood cholesterol were: within-day 2.0% and 2.2% at 1680 and 2670 mg/L, respectively; between-day 1.8% and 2.4% (n = 9 and 8). Results were similar for serum and heparinized or EDTA-treated single-donor plasma (CV 1.4% to 2.6%). CVs of results for two reconstituted commercial quality-control materials were 3.4% and 4.6%. Heparin and hematocrit were evaluated as interferents, and critical limits for interference were identified for bilirubin, hemoglobin, and triglyceride in blood and plasma or serum. When sample collection and analysis were controlled by trained personnel, results with the Reflotron (y) compared well with those by the Ektachem procedure (x) for both blood and serum samples: r = 0.950, y = 0.944x + 130 mg/L; and r = 0.955, y = 0.93x + 43.5 mg/L, respectively. The same comparability was observed when the analysis was performed by briefly trained high-school students: r = 0.980, y = 0.949x + 23 mg/L. Performance decreased when both collection and analysis were performed by laymen: r = 0.880, y = 0.870x + 186 mg/L.