Cholesterol Measurement: Variablity in Methods and Test Results
(Testimony, 02/14/95, GAO/T-PEMD-95-17).

Knowing the amount of cholesterol in the blood is important to good
health, but GAO found that it was hard to learn the correct level from a
single test.  Given the wide range of instruments used to test
cholesterol and day-to-day variations in diet, exercise, and illness,
GAO believes that persons should consider being tested several times to
determine cholesterol levels.  Doctors and patients need to be aware of
fluctuations in cholesterol measurements and that any decision to
classify and treat a patient should be based on the average of multiple
measurements and an assessment of other risk factors.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-PEMD-95-17
     TITLE:  Cholesterol Measurement: Variablity in Methods and Test 
             Results
      DATE:  02/14/95
   SUBJECT:  Health care services
             Testing
             Medical equipment
             Biomedical research
             Cardiovascular diseases
             Nutrition research
             Disease detection or diagnosis
             Quality control
             Laboratories
IDENTIFIER:  National Reference System for Cholesterol
             NHLBI National Cholesterol Education Program
             
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