Improving Performance – CRMLN

At a glance

The Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN) is a network of highly specialized laboratories that work with manufacturers and laboratories to assess the analytical accuracy and precision of their tests.

Male scientist in laboratory

Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN)

CDC operates the Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN). The network laboratories ensure reference measurements are comparable across network members and provide reference measurement capacity for assessing and certifying the analytical performance lipid tests globally. CRMLN laboratories operate reference methods equivalent to those used at the CDC Clinical Reference Laboratory for CVD.

What is the function of the network?

CRMLN provides a point of reference for manufacturers and clinical laboratories to calibrate and evaluate their lipid measurements. The network, made up of highly specialized reference laboratories, ensures stability of measurements and global availability of calibration services to manufacturers and clinical laboratories.

The CRMLN provides reference measurement services to laboratories for measuring total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and total glycerides (TG). CRMLN laboratories have to meet stringent analytical performance criteria to ensure their measurements are sufficiently accurate and precise for evaluating these tests.

Schematic flow of standardization using CRMLN for manufacturers and LDTs.
Standardization using CRMLN for manufacturers and LDTs.

CRMLN member laboratories

Network laboratories provide reference measurement capacity needed to assess tests produced by manufacturers and laboratories globally.

List of CRMLN Member Laboratories

The Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN) consists of eight members. Many of the laboratories have participated in the network for more than 20 years. The long-time member laboratories have evaluated the analytical accuracy and precision of over 300 assays and laboratories each year for total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C.


CRMLN Laboratories and Services

Please contact the CRMLN program at cdclsp@cdc.gov for an updated list.

Please refer to Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network Certification Status for the recent updates on CRMLN certification.

How to join CRMLN

Keep Reading Procedures for Joining CRMLN

CRMLN information 101 and FAQs

Certification through CRMLN

The goal of certification through CRMLN is to ensure that users of tests for HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG produce sufficiently accurate and precise measurement results. These results are comparable to those used to derive current medical decision points for use in patient care. Therefore, health care providers can compare their patients' results to current clinical decision points to consistently evaluate their health status, regardless of the test system used.

Keep Reading CRMLN FAQs

Contact us

E-mail: cdclsp@cdc.gov

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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health; Division of Laboratory Sciences