Test Code SPEPIFE Protein Electrophoresis and Immunofixation
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Serum
Preferred Specimen: Serum/Gold Top
Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Red Top
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
- Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
- Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.
Reference Values
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
Total Protein |
All |
All |
6.0-8.3 g/dL |
Albumin |
All |
All |
3.5-5.0 g/dL |
Alpha Globulin 1 |
All |
All |
0.10-0.40 g/dL |
Alpha Globulin 2 |
All |
All |
0.50-1.10 g/dL |
Beta Globulin 1 |
All |
All |
0.50-0.70 g/dL |
Beta Globulin 2 |
All |
All |
0.10-0.50 g/dL |
Gamma Globulin |
All |
All |
0.50-1.50 g/dL |
Volume
Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
- Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.
Critical Values
Not applicable
CPT Codes
84155 - Total Protein, 84165 - Assay of protein, electrophoretic fractionation and quantitation , 86334 - Immunofixation electrophoresis
LOINC Codes
2885-2 Total Protein, 49275-1 SPEP-IFE Interpretation
Specimen Stability
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
Refrigerated |
3 days |
Test Components
Total Protein, Albumin, Alpha Globulin 1, Alpha Globulin 2, Beta Globulin 1, Beta Globulin 2, Gamma Globulin, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin M, Kappa, Lambda
Clinical Indications
- Total protein measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases involving the liver, kidney or bone marrow, as well as other metabolic or nutritional disorders.
- Immunofixation Electrophoresis is a valuable method in the evaluation of disorders of the immune system. When abnormalities occur on protein electrophoresis (e.g., paraproteinemia), which are suspectedly due to changes in immunoglobins, confirmatory testing such as immunofixation electrophoresis should be performed to:
- Differentiate between monoclonal and polyclonal increases in immunoglobulins in serum.
- Identify the immunoglobulin(s) involved by class and type.
- Detect and identify intact monoclonal immunoglobulins or monoclonal free light chains (Bence Jones Proteins) in urine.
Methodology
Endpoint Colorimetric Assay Spectrophotometric (Roche Diagnostics)
Sebia Hydragel (HYDRASYS LC and PHORESIS) Electrophoresis System
Sebia Capillarys 3 Tera
Additional Information
- Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
- The total protein concentration is 0.4 to 0.8 g/dL lower when the sample is collected from a patient situated in the recumbent position rather than upright.
- Immunofixation is indicated when resuls of immunoelectrophoresis are equivocal. Immunofixation is useful in detecting a biclonal gammopathy and is useful for recognizing a small monoclonal protein in the presence of a polyclonal increase in immunoglobulins.
- Clinically significant monoclonal proteins are rarely present in patients less than 30 years of age.
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test
Routine Turnaround Time: 48 hours
Testing Schedule: Monday - Friday
Synonyms/Keyword Search
SPEP
Last Review Date
07/31/2024