Quantitation of beta-lipoprotein in cord serum by rate nephelometric immunoassay: a potential screening test for familial hypercholesterolemia.

We measured beta-lipoprotein in 232 cord sera by rate nephelometry and compared the results with those obtained by electroimmunoassay. The mean (mean +/- two standard deviations) was 544 (293-1009) mg/L by rate nephelometry and 503 (265-955) mg/L by electroimmunoassay. The between-assay correlation coefficient was 0.891. Between-run coefficients of variation were 3.5-4.4% for nephelometry and 11-14% for electroimmunoassay. Nephelometry was faster, more precise, and less labor intensive than electroimmunoassay. For these reasons, rate nephelometry appears to be a more suitable assay system for mass screening, should detection of familial hypercholesterolemia prove feasible and desirable.