Patent ID: 7098036

Claim:
A method for determining the relative ratio of at least two different lipoproteins or apolipoproteins in a biological sample comprising: immersing into the sample a solid phase material having separately immobilized thereon at least first and second antibody molecules, wherein the antibody molecules are selected from the group consisting of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant antibodies and antigen-binding antibody fragments thereof, wherein the antibody molecules are immunoreactive with at least two different lipoproteins, wherein the first and second antibodies bind to different stable, conformation independent epitopes that are uninfluenced by the lipid content of the lipoprotein, protein component of the lipoprotein or lipid associated with the specific lipoprotein, wherein the lipoproteins are selected from the group consisting of LDL, HDL and VLDL; allowing the antibody molecules time to bind to the LDL, HDL, VLDL or apolipoproteins in the sample; removing the solid phase material containing the immobilized antibody molecules; determining the amount of lipoprotein or apolipoproteins bound by the immobilizedantibody molecules, and comparing the amount bound which is specific for LDL, HDL, VLDL or each apolipoprotein in order to calculate the relative amounts of LDL, HDL, VLDL or apolipoproteins.