Standardization of lipid and lipoprotein determinations for pediatric screening procedures.

Standardization of lipid and lipoprotein measurements is of concern to laboratories that serve pediatric as well as adult populations, since preventive measures taken during pediatric years can help control atherosclerotic cardiovascular problems that can arise during adult years. Multiple analytical and physiologic problems that exist inherently in the lipids and lipoproteins and in application of measurements to the pediatric population must be controlled to gain standardization and produce highly precise and accurate results. Reference values from well-described, observed pediatric populations have been published for use in interpreting analytical results. In collaboration with NHLBI, the CDC has offered lipid and lipoprotein standardization services for the United States since 1957 and, on an international scale, has cooperated with WHO since 1962. Standardization activities have been primarily concerned with total and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride determinations for cardiovascular epidemiologic and clinical trial investigations.