Apolipoproteins by Mass Spectrometry (WG-APO MS)

Membership

Terms of Reference

• To achieve standardization of a panel of clinically relevant serum apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, B, C-I, C-II , C-III, E and apo (a) (including qualitative phenotyping where needed). Standardization is done in such a way that measurement results are traceable to SI as outlined in ISO 17511. Other traceability chains will be used in cases where traceability to SI cannot be achieved.
• To evaluate clinical performance and clinical utility of serum apolipoprotein panel(s) for CVD risk stratification and treatment, in comparison to or together with contemporary blood lipids.

Current projects

• Define the analytes / measurands intended to be measured.
• Development of primary and secondary reference materials, including evaluation of commutability.
• Development of an LC-MS/MS-based reference method for the above mentioned analytes that are unaffected by genetic variants, post-translational modifications and other factors. The reference method will meet relevant ISO standards (i.e., ISO 15195).
• Evaluation of the analytical performance of the LC-MS/MS reference method.
• Assessment of the performance of commercially available apolipoprotein assays compared to the reference method using commutable reference materials as well as single donation samples.
• Any reference materials and reference measurement procedures developed will be submitted to JCTLM for review and listing on the JCTLM database.

Future Projects

• Evaluation of clinical performance and clinical utility of the multiplexed apolipoprotein test according to the Test Evaluation framework developed by the EFLM working group on Test Evaluation (Horvath AR et al., CCA, 2014).

List of Corresponding Members, nominated by National Societies

Working Group Chair's contact

Prof. Christa COBBAERT
Head of Department Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine LUMC
Afd. KCL
postroute E2-P
P.O. Box 9600
2300 RC Leiden
The Netherlands
E-mail: C.M.Cobbaert@lumc.nl