title: Evaluation and optimization of variables in immunofixation electrophoresis for the detection of IgG paraproteins.
abstract: We examined different antisera and varying serum dilutions for their effects on the sensitivity of immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) for detecting and characterizing serum IgG paraproteins. Different antisera reacted unequally with a single paraprotein and conversely, a single antiserum reacted unequally with several different paraproteins. The dilution of serum was extremely important; the adoption of a single dilution for all sera could result in failure to detect low-concentration or poorly immunoreactive paraproteins. While the application of a standardized amount of paraprotein is recommended, it must be emphasized that no single antiserum can be relied on to provide unequivocal detection of all paraproteins of that particular isotype.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Monos
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bina
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Kahn
mesh_terms: D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D010266:Paraproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010266:Paraproteins