A simplified method for the analysis of ultracentrifuge film records of low-density lipoproteins of human serum.

A convenient method has been devised for analyzing ultracentrifuge film records of human serum lipoproteins. It is based on a template that can be constructed by the investigator according to the operational factors peculiar to his ultracentrifuge system. The film patterns are projected and traced on the template, the boundary limits of each lipoprotein class are located by reference to the template grid, and the concentrations are determined by polar planimetry. Simple procedures are incorporated that correct without loss of accuracy for the effect of concentration on sedimentation rate and for the Ogston-Johnston effect. In a test of 56 samples of human serum, the results obtained with this procedure did not differ significantly (p = 0.2) from those obtained with the conventional complex calculations.