Which HDL quantitation method involves gel-based separation of lipoproteins?

• A. Gomori procedure
• B. Homogeneous
• C. Column chromatography
• D. Agarose gel electrophoresis

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how lipoproteins are separated before quantitation. Gel-based separation uses a gel matrix and an electric field to move particles according to their charge and size, producing distinct bands for different lipoprotein classes. Agarose gel electrophoresis is the classic approach for this: lipoproteins migrate through the agarose gel and separate so the HDL band can be identified and quantified, often by densitometry or specific staining after the run. This method visually demonstrates the distribution of lipoproteins and specifically targets HDL by measuring the HDL band on the gel.

The other methods do not rely on a gel. The Gomori procedure uses chemical precipitation to remove non-HDL particles and then measures HDL in the remaining solution. A homogeneous method performs the HDL measurement directly in a single enzymatic step without prior separation. Column chromatography separates lipoproteins as they pass through a column, based on size or other properties, not within a gel.