INTRODUCTION: This survey aims to assess the implementation of recommendations from the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) by clinical biochemistry laboratories in Czechia and Slovakia in their policies for reporting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The web-based survey was distributed to all 383 Czech and Slovak clinical biochemistry laboratories that measure lipids by external quality assessment provider SEKK. A total of 17 single-answer questions were included. The questionnaire was focused on the detection and decision points in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). All survey answers were taken into account. The laboratories followed the EFLM and EAS guidelines when they reported an interpretative comment considering FH diagnosis in adults. RESULTS: A total of 203 (53%) laboratories answered. Only 5% of laboratories added interpretative comments considering FH diagnosis when LDL-C concentrations are above 5.0 mmol/L in adults, and 3% of laboratories added interpretative comments considering FH diagnosis when LDL-C concentrations are above 4.0 mmol/L in children. Only 7% of laboratories reported goals for all cardiovascular risk categories (low, moderate, high, very high). Non-HDL cholesterol concentrations were calculated by 74% of responders. A significant number (51%) of participants did not measure apolipoprotein B, and 59% of laboratories did not measure lipoprotein(a). CONCLUSIONS: Only a small portion of laboratories from Czechia and Slovakia reported high LDL-C results with interpretative comments considering FH diagnosis in adults, the laboratories did not follow the guidelines.

2nd Clinic of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Brno Czechia

3rd Department of Medicine General University Hospital and 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czechia

Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology The Tomas Bata Hospital in Zlín Zlín Czechia

Department of Clinical Biochemistry St Anne's University Hospital Brno Brno Czechia

Institute of Laboratory Medicine Medical Faculty University of Ostrava Ostrava Czechia

Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics Faculty General Hospital and 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czechia

SEKK spol s r o Pardubice Czechia

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