Apolipoprotein B (Apo B)
| Category | Biochemistry >> Proteins | ||||
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| Test background |
One molecule of Apo B lies at the core of the VLDL moiety from which the enzyme lipoprotein lipase progressively removes triglycerides to form LDL. Measurement of Apo B facilitates a stratification of risk for the development of atherosclerotic heart disease in a manner analogous to that of LDL calculation, but not fraught with the same complications, eg. hypertriglyceridaemia hampers indirect inference of LDL from HDL/triglyceride assay. |
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| Clinical Indications |
Suspected hyperlipidaemia/hyperlipidaemia Family history of cardiovascular heart disease Unreliable LDL calculation, ie. consistent hypertriglyceridaemia Investigations of the suspected inborn error of metabolism Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome (Apo B deficiency: symptoms include diarrhoea, failure to thrive, neurological disorders and steatorrhoea) |
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| Reference range |
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| Sample & container required | SST (gold top) or serum (red top) | ||||
| Sample volume | 0.5 mL | ||||
| Transport storage | Stable at 2-8°C for 72 hours. Please freeze pending dispatch for analysis. Sample can be sent by first class post. |
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| Turnaround time | 1 week | ||||
| Notes | Grossly haemolysed samples are unsuitable for this assay. |