By: Macy Guisto 
The Alere Cholestech LDX® System is an effective and efficient device that is used to test total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and blood glucose levels. Along with these measures, Cholestech also uses a ratio of total cholesterol over high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (TC/HDL) to calculate an estimated value for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels within an individual’s blood. The Cholestech machine also uses calculation procedures to approximate non-HDL cholesterol. Cholestech uses a cassette method in order to quantitatively assess all of these metrics, which supplies an individual with a lipid profile.1
It is important for individuals to be aware of their measurements within these categories in order to gauge their health status and test for specific disorders.
The metrics evaluated by Cholestech are useful in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease. It is important for individuals to monitor their cholesterol levels because having an excess amount of cholesterol in the blood stream can be a contributing factor to coronary heart disease. Also, it is important to know these values so that if one does have high cholesterol levels, then they may able to make changes or be put on medication to better regulate their levels, which can help improve their health. It is also important for people to know their glucose measurements because they can help practitioners diagnose and treat patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and idiopathic hypoglycemia.1
The Cholestech system uses ‘enzymatic methodology’ along with ‘solid-phase technology’ to assess an individual’s triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.1 Blood for a Cholestech assessment is required; 40 microliters of blood is traditionally retrieved via a fingerstick and collected in a capillary tube. The blood sample is then injected into a cassette. After the cassette is filed with the blood sample, the cassette is placed in the analyzer, at this time the blood cells are removed from the plasma. Within this cassette, the plasma is separated into two equal parts, half of the plasma sample flows to the right of the cassette while half of it flows into the left compartment of the cassette. Within the right side of the cassette the plasma flows to saturate the total cholesterol and triglyceride pads where a reaction occurs. In the left side, the low and very low density lipoproteins are filtered out of the sample, leaving a plasma sample, which contains glucose and HDL cholesterol. This left over sample of glucose and HDL cholesterol is then transported to the corresponding reaction pads for each type of substance. The system uses a method, which is enzymatic in nature in order to measure the amounts of both total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in the sample. An enzymatic process in which the triglycerides are broken down even further into simpler substances is used to analyze the levels of triglycerides in the sample. The glucose in the sample is measured by an enzymatic method that allows glucose to be broken down even further to be analyzed. Throughout the process of analyzing total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose, and triglycerides, the last step utilizes a ‘color reaction’ in which the end product results in a specific color solution, which is then measured by “reflectance photometry.” The cassette contains a system that allows for the reflectance value of each substance to be converted into readings of values for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose concentrations.1
The Alere Cholestech LDX® System is a highly accurate, sufficient technique used to measure lipid profile and glucose levels. The results from this system compare to the results from full blood-draw laboratory testing with high correlation and accuracy2 The Cholestech system has a bias inaccuracy of +3%. 2
Various studies have shown that Cholestech results are comparable to hospital lab results. For example, a study done in 2006 compared the results of the Cholestech system to laboratory test results.3 This study found that differences in results between these two testing methods were not clinically significant and researchers concluded that using the Alere Cholestech LDX® System is a reliable alternative to getting laboratory measurements done.3 Another study compared Cholestech results to hospital lab results, in this study researchers also concluded that there were very significant correlations between the results of both the testing methods.4 They also concluded that the absolute differences in measurements taken by Cholestech when compared to hospital lab results were insignificant.4 Overall, the research team concluded that the results that are provided by the Cholestech system are reliable.4
Cholestech is a reliable way to measure cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and glucose levels. This system is a convenient, relatively cheap way to accurately measure important health aspects.
1. Alere Cholestech LDX® Analyzer. (2015). Alere Cholestech LDX Lipids CLSI Packet. Retrieved February 20, 2017, from http://www.alere.com/en/home/product-details/cholestech-ldx-system.html
2. Alere Cholestech LDX® Analyzer. (2015). Precision, Accuracy, and Total Analytical Error. Retrieved February 20, 2017, from http://www.alere.com/en/home/product-details/cholestech-ldx-system.html
3. Shemesh, T., Rowley, K. G., Shephard, M., Piers, L. S., & O’Dea, K. (2006). Agreement between laboratory results and on-site pathology testing using Bayer DCA2000+ and Cholestech LDX point-of-care methods in remote Australian Aboriginal communities. Clinica chimica acta, 367(1), 69-76. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009898105006868
4. Carey, M., Markham, C., Gaffney, P., Boran, G., & Maher, V. (2006). Validation of a point of care lipid analyser using a hospital based reference laboratory. Irish journal of medical science, 175(4), 30-35. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF03167964?LI=true