Which method is used to assay HDL fraction?

The Abell-Kendall Method is a classic procedure specifically designed for the quantification of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This method is based on the principle of chemical extraction and direct measurement of cholesterol. It involves the precipitation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions, allowing for the isolation of HDL in the solution, which can then be measured using a colorimetric method.

Assessing HDL is crucial because it plays a key role in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are often associated with a lower risk of heart disease, making accurate measurement imperative in clinical settings.

While other methods may be used in conjunction with or for different lipid measurements, they do not specifically target HDL in the same way as the Abell-Kendall method. For instance, the LDL precipitation method focuses on isolating LDL rather than HDL, while the enzymatic triglyceride method measures triglyceride levels, and chemiluminescent assays often target various analytes but do not specifically optimize HDL assessment.