A method for the measurement of at least two lipoprotein components in a blood sample from a subject, wherein said at least two lipoprotein components are selected from total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), said method comprising: combining at least a portion of said sample of blood with a first reagent to provide a first combined solution, wherein said first reagent comprises a lipoprotein solubilization agent, a lipoprotein interactant, and a buffer; wherein the lipoprotein interactant comprises a negatively charged polysaccharide and a divalent cation, or a salt thereof, in a ratio of between 0.001 to 0.1 and wherein said lipoprotein interactant is present at a concentration level that provides for conversion of HDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product at a substantially different rate than for conversion of LDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product and at a substantially different rate than for conversion of VLDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product adding to said first combined solution a second reagent to provide a second combined solution, wherein said second reagent comprises a buffer, an amphiphilic agent, a cholesterol esterase, a cholesterol oxidase, and a colorant, wherein said time of addition of said second reagent to said first combined solution is termed the initial time; and measuring absorbance of light by said second combined solution within a first time period, within a second time period, and after a third time, wherein said time periods and said third time may be determined with respect to said initial time, and measuring the lipoprotein amounts of at least two lipoprotein components in the blood sample from said absorbance measurements, whereby at least two lipoprotein components in a blood sample from a subject are measured. combining at least a portion of said sample of blood with a first reagent to provide a first combined solution, wherein said first reagent comprises a lipoprotein solubilization agent, a lipoprotein interactant, and a buffer; wherein the lipoprotein interactant comprises a negatively charged polysaccharide and a divalent cation, or a salt thereof, in a ratio of between 0.001 to 0.1 and wherein said lipoprotein interactant is present at a concentration level that provides for conversion of HDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product at a substantially different rate than for conversion of LDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product and at a substantially different rate than for conversion of VLDL-cholesterol to a measurable colored product adding to said first combined solution a second reagent to provide a second combined solution, wherein said second reagent comprises a buffer, an amphiphilic agent, a cholesterol esterase, a cholesterol oxidase, and a colorant, wherein said time of addition of said second reagent to said first combined solution is termed the initial time; and measuring absorbance of light by said second combined solution within a first time period, within a second time period, and after a third time, wherein said time periods and said third time may be determined with respect to said initial time, and measuring the lipoprotein amounts of at least two lipoprotein components in the blood sample from said absorbance measurements, whereby at least two lipoprotein components in a blood sample from a subject are measured.