The board for the improvement of the Quality in Lípidos" started this program in Costa Rica in 1999, carrying out eight surveys in a period of two year. Samples of frozen serum were distributed maintaining a net of cold during the process. The "Pacific Biometrics" in Seattle was used as reference laboratory, credited by the "Center of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta." Initially, 43 laboratories participated, increasing the number gradually to 90 at the end of the year 2000 with an average answering rate of 93%. The program incorporated 37% of the national clinical laboratories that correspond to 92% of the clinical laboratories of the public sector and 14% of the private sector. The average interlaboratory variation coefficients for cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were of 8,4 + 2,0; 12,6 + 3,1; 24,2 + 8,1, respectively. The approaches of the National Cholesterol Education Program in United States determine that the recommended maximum variation is 9%, 15% and 22% for cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol, respectively. According to this criteria, the average percentage of laboratories with acceptable results was of 68% for cholesterol, 74% for triglicéridos and 63% for HDL-cholesterol.

Total cholesterol; triglycerides; HDL-cholesterol; proficiency tests; standardization; lipid profile