title: A retrospective study of the relative utility of electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, immunofixation, and nephelometry in the investigation of serum proteins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relative value of visual inspection of protein electrophoresis patterns, immunoelectrophoresis, immunofixation, and specific protein quantitation in the investigation of serum proteins.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of protein results on 372 sera analyzed by electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. A subsection of specimens (276) also had immunoglobulin quantitation by immunonephelometry and 30 were studied by immunofixation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total gamma globulin levels were correctly assessed visually in 84.4% of cases. Discrete bands seen visually were mainly monoclonal in 74 of 80 (92.5%). Six monoclonal proteins were not detected visually. Twenty-five monoclonal proteins required immunofixation for typing, and 60 were typed by immunoelectrophoresis. The visual assessment of the level of normal immunoglobulins in the presence of a monoclonal gammopathy was correct in 58% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of monoclonal gammopathies could be evaluated by a combination of protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. Except for quantitating monoclonal immunoglobins, protein electrophoresis was unreliable as a quantitative procedure and nephelometry was preferred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Salkie
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins