What is the maximum total error allowed for HDL-C measurements under NCEP guidelines?

What is the maximum total error allowed for HDL-C measurements under NCEP guidelines?

• A. <5%
• B. <10%
• C. <13%
• D. <15%

Answer: (C)

Total error combines both systematic bias and random imprecision into one performance target. For HDL-C measurements, the NCEP guidelines set this allowable total error below 13%. That means a lab’s HDL-C result must stay within a range where the sum of the bias and the imprecision (often represented as bias plus 1.65 times the coefficient of variation for 95% one-sided tolerance) does not exceed 13%. This relatively tight threshold reflects the role of HDL-C in cardiovascular risk assessment and the need to keep measurements stable enough not to misclassify risk. In practice, this encourages both accurate calibration (low bias) and good precision (low CV). Choices that imply stricter (<5% or <10%) or looser (>15%) limits would not align with the standard threshold, so <13% is the appropriate benchmark.

Total error combines both systematic bias and random imprecision into one performance target. For HDL-C measurements, the NCEP guidelines set this allowable total error below 13%. That means a lab’s HDL-C result must stay within a range where the sum of the bias and the imprecision (often represented as bias plus 1.65 times the coefficient of variation for 95% one-sided tolerance) does not exceed 13%. This relatively tight threshold reflects the role of HDL-C in cardiovascular risk assessment and the need to keep measurements stable enough not to misclassify risk.

In practice, this encourages both accurate calibration (low bias) and good precision (low CV). Choices that imply stricter (<5% or <10%) or looser (>15%) limits would not align with the standard threshold, so <13% is the appropriate benchmark.