Comparison of the Cephalin-Cholesterol Flocculation with the Thymol Turbidity Test

Abstract

The cephalin cholesterol flocculation reaction and the thymol turbidity test are of value in detecting parenchymal disease of the liver. Both tests depend upon abnormalities in the serum complex that appear with hepatitis and allied conditions. In spite of fairly close correlation, the mechanism of the 2 is quite different.. The cephalin test depends in part upon changes in the electrophoretic derived albumin fraction in hepatitis, while the thymol test depends upon changes in a lipid globulin complex in inflammatory diseases of the liver. Both tests should be employed clinically to detect abnormalities in the serum complex.