Could the chylomicron marker apoB48 be of value in the diagnosis of chylous effusions?

•Triglyceride assay, indirect marker of the presence of chylomicrons, is the most common first-line biochemical test for determining the chylous nature of various effusion such as chylous ascite, chylothorax or chylopericardium.•apoB48 is a trafficking handle and a direct biomarker for chylomicrons.•Simple, rapid apoB48 immunoassay can be of value (relative to the gold-standard test, gel lipoprotein electrophoresis) in the diagnosis of chylous effusions of origin.