title: Screening immunofixation should replace protein electrophoresis as the initial investigation of monoclonal gammopathy: Point.
abstract: The reliable detection of paraprotein in serum and urine is the primary purpose of electrophoretic procedures in clinical laboratories. Screening immunofixation electrophoresis (sIFE) employs a single application of antisera directed against heavy and light chains that facilitates the detection of paraproteins that migrate in the non-γ region or that are below the detection limit of protein electrophoresis. These paraproteins that are missed by routine electrophoresis occur in up to 27.3% of newly investigated and 13.6% of monitored patients. Small paraproteins missed by conventional electrophoretic techniques are clinically important in the diagnosis and monitoring of malignant plasma and B-cell disorders. The superior diagnostic performance of sIFE makes it suitable as the initial laboratory procedure to investigate paraproteins in complex serum and urine matrices.
authors.forename: Carel J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pretorius
mesh_terms: D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D010266:Paraproteins / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D010266:Paraproteins