Question

When performing a cholesterol point of care test, what findings should the tech immediately report?

Answer 1

When performing a cholesterol point of care test, the tech should immediately report findings such as the presence of chylomicrons, opalescence indicating VLDL, and the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing a cholesterol point of care test, the tech should immediately report findings such as:

1. Observed presence of a supernatant layer of chylomicrons in the serum obtained after overnight fasting and kept at 4°C.
2. Opalescence observed in the intermittent layer, indicating significant amounts of VLDL.
3. Estimation of serum cholesterol and triglycerides in an overnight fasting specimen.

In some cases, electrophoresis of serum lipoproteins may be required.

These findings are important to report because they can provide valuable information about the patient's lipid profile and help in the management and treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia, which is associated with diseases like ischemic heart disease.