Cholesterol Measurement: Test Accuracy and Factors That Influence Cholesterol Levels

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), focusing on the: (1) different techniques for measuring cholesterol in laboratory settings; (2) accuracy of these measurement techniques; (3) factors that influence individual cholesterol levels; and (4) potential effect of cholesterol measurement variability.