Lipoprotein Subfraction Detection Service
A standard lipid panel reports total amounts — total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C — but says little about the size and heterogeneity of the particles carrying those lipids. Particle characteristics matter: smaller, denser LDL and remnant lipoproteins are more strongly linked to atherosclerosis than the same total cholesterol would suggest. Our lipoprotein subfraction detection service resolves lipoproteins by particle size so researchers can see the full distribution, not just the sum.
This matters because cardiovascular risk is not fully explained by LDL-C alone. Evidence shows that even when LDL-C appears controlled, small dense LDL and remnant lipoprotein particles can still drive atherosclerotic processes, and a substantial share of coronary events occur in patients whose conventional LDL-C is within range. Subfraction profiling helps explain these gaps and supports deeper study of lipoprotein metabolism.
What the Service Provides
Using particle-size-resolved separation, the service quantitatively reports up to twelve lipoprotein fractions from a single sample, together with conventional lipid values:
- VLDL subfractions
- IDL subfractions (A / B / C)
- LDL subfractions (LDL-1 through LDL-7)
- Remnant lipoproteins (RLP) — cholesterol-rich remnant particles
- Standard LDL-C and HDL-C reported alongside the profile
Method Overview
Lipoproteins are separated according to particle size and visualized as a resolved profile, then quantified against reference points. The approach gives both a readable separation pattern and numeric values for each fraction, so results can be used for direct comparison across samples and time points.
Sample Requirements
| Item | Detail |
| Sample type | 1–2 mL serum or EDTA plasma |
| Supporting value | Total cholesterol of the sample (or measured by the service) |
| Turnaround | Approximately 1 week |
Deliverables
- Original separation image of the lipoprotein profile.
- Analyzed lipoprotein subfraction chart.
- Quantitative dataset covering the twelve fractions plus standard LDL-C and HDL-C.
Applications
- Cardiovascular research — lipoprotein heterogeneity and residual risk beyond LDL-C.
- Metabolic & dyslipidemia studies — particle shifts in diabetes, obesity, and lipid disorders.
- Lipoprotein metabolism — mechanism studies linking particle size to disease.
Why Outsource the Analysis
Subfraction profiling requires consistent separation, careful quantification, and experience reading particle patterns. Outsourcing returns analysis-ready data without building the assay in-house, protecting sample and time while keeping results comparable across a study.
