A new low-density lipoprotein cholesterol equation based on the gold standard reference method of beta-quantitation was derived with results from a standard lipid panel. This equation can be used to more accurately estimate the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in patients with plasma triglyceride levels up to 800 mg/dL and is at least equivalent or more accurate than other equations for patients with normolipidemia and a low level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.