What's your LDL? Accurate medical testing of cholesterol that reports the ratio between bad low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and good high-density (HDL) ones is now commonplace. But before NIST began certifying reference materials for blood constituents, measurements of total cholesterol were frequently off by up to 23 percent.

NIST works closely with clinical chemists and federal health agencies to provide doctors with the most accurate tests possible for medical diagnoses. This also includes helping to ensure accurate diagnostic measurements of toxic chemicals like lead and healthy substances like vitamins.

NIST clinical Standard Reference Materials include human blood serum samples with certified values for components such as cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and calcium.

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NIST chemists improve measurement methods for disease markers: components in blood that correlate with heart attacks, diabetes, or other conditions.

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