Fluorescent in-situ detection of lipid particle apolipoproteins within primary electrophoretic matrix

A method of determining whether a subject is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease comprising:

• assessing the level of specific Apolipoproteins and/or lipoprotein particles present in a biological sample comprising:
• providing a biological sample comprising lipoprotein particles;
• providing at least two lipoprotein-binding complexes, each complex comprising an antibody that binds a lipoprotein particle or a portion thereof, wherein the antibody is bound to a signal producing molecule capable of producing or causing production of a detectable signal and wherein each detectable signal of the at least two lipoprotein-binding complexes is distinguishable from the other detectable signal;
• contacting the biological sample with the at least two lipoprotein-binding complexes under conditions suitable to form a lipoprotein-antibody-signal producing molecule complex;
• separating the lipoprotein particles present in the biological sample by depositing the biological sample on an electrophoretic gel and carrying out gel electrophoresis;
• detecting the detectable signal produced by the signal producing molecule of the lipoprotein-antibody-signal producing molecule complex on the electrophoretic gel;
• and
• determining the level of the specific Apolipoprotein and/or lipoprotein particle present in the biological sample based on said detecting and correlating the determined level of the Apolipoprotein and/or lipoprotein particle to a control or reference value to determine if the subject is at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.