Skip to Content

CardioCHEK™ Microwell ELISA Assays

Quantitative Human Plasma Assays for Coronary Heart   


Disease (CHD) Risk Factors

Apolipoprotein A1 (product insert):


Apo AI is primarily found in high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle.  It serves the function of preventing the accumulation of cholesterol loaded macrophages which deposit on the arterial wall as foam cells.  This is the prominent early feature of atherosclerotic lesion formation ultimately resulting in atherosclerosis.  Apo AI, is a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 28 Kd.  Its primary function is to activate LCAT within the HDL complex, which catalyzes the esterification of cholesterol.  This results in a more soluble cholesterol-HDL complex which increases the cholesterol transport capacity of the HDL particle for subsequent removal by the liver.  Apo AI is therefore a convenient marker for assessing the cholesterol clearing capacity of the blood, and studies have clearly indicated that it is a better discriminator of angiographically documented coronary artery disease than HDL cholesterol.

Apolipoprotein B (product insert):


Over 90% of low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle is composed of Apo B. It serves the function of solubalizing cholesterol within the LDL complex, which in turn increases the transport capacity of LDL for subsequent deposit on the arterial wall.  Apo B is therefore a convenient marker for assessing the cholesterol depositing capacity of the blood, and studies have clearly indicated it as a better discriminator of angiographically documented coronary artery disease than LDL cholesterol.

Lipoprotein(a) (product insert):


Lp(a), unlike Apo AI or Apo B, whose levels vary as a result of diet, exercise, etc. is predominantly a genetic trait whose level remains more or less constant after puberty.  More than 13 phenotypes of Lp(a) have been identified having molecular weight of 300-800 Kd.  It is bound to both HDL and LDL. Lp(a) interferes with plasminogen, the clot dissolving enzyme, which binds to the arterial endothelial lining.  This in turn contributes to blood clot formation, and over a prolonged period of time would lead to significant damage to the coronary arteries.  Levels of greater than 30mg/dl have been demonstrated to independently increase the risk of CHD by six fold.

C-Reactive Protein (product insert):


C-Reactive Protein (CRP) has been demonstrated to be a general indicator of major tissue damage. Hence, it can be used to indicate a stroke or heart attack because major blood vessels leading to the heart or brain are damaged and release large quantities of CRP during these disease states. CRP is a particularly useful indicator of CHD in women and in patients that demonstrate no other plasma circulating biochemical indicators.