Standardization of Laboratory Procedures Regarding Lipid Profile Assessment

Abstract

Introduction: Given the critical role of lipid profiles in clinical and public health contexts, the need for standardized laboratory procedures is evident. Current practices vary widely across different regions and laboratories. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to address the urgent need for standardization in the laboratory procedures regarding lipid profile assessments.

Methods:

This systematic review employed a rigorous methodology to evaluate laboratory procedures for lipid profile assessment, utilizing structured search strategies across major medical databases like PubMed and MEDLINE. Keywords such as "lipid profile," "cholesterol testing," and "laboratory standardization" were used to ensure comprehensive coverage of interventional studies.

Results:

The systematic review, encompassing seven interventional studies, offered substantial insights into the standardization of lipid profile assessments, with interventions ranging from protocol standardization to technological advancements, improving lipid measurement accuracy. These studies demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing accuracy and consistency, with significant reductions in LDL cholesterol measurement variability (RR: 0.75, CI: 0.65-0.86) and improvements in HDL cholesterol accuracy (RR: 0.90, CI: 0.81-0.99). The findings underscored the crucial role of both technological integration and procedural enhancements, highlighting the complex and integral nature of laboratory standardization in ensuring reliable lipid profile measurement outcomes.

Conclusions:

The review revealed that diverse interventions in clinical laboratories markedly enhance the standardization and accuracy of lipid profile assessments, with automated systems improving triglyceride measurement consistency, and training programs and new calibration protocols significantly boosting the reliability of total and LDL cholesterol measurements.