Quantitative Non-Instrumented Test for HDL Cholesterol

The research will assess and demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a dry format device for obtaining a plasma sample bearing only high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol from a whole blood specimen. The long-term objective of this research is the construction of a non-instrumented diagnostic device for the quantitative determination of HDL cholesterol from a peripheral blood sample for use in the physician's office. The availability of such a device will foster assessment and monitoring of the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) due to HDL cholesterol status. A readily available means for convenient, accurate, precise, and inexpensive measurement of HDL cholesterol will have a significant, beneficial impact on the management of CHD and represents a major market for medical diagnostics.