What is Immunofixation UPEP

Urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) is used to identify the presence of the Bence Jones protein in urine. Immunofixation is used to identify the subtype of protein (ie, IgA lambda).

What does a UPEP test tell you?

Urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) is a test your doctor can use to determine if there’s protein in your urine. It can also help your doctor find out how much of each type of protein is present.

What does high Immunofixation serum mean?

Positive results from the test indicate the presence of abnormal Ig. This may suggest the existence of an underlying health condition, such as: an immune system disorder. multiple myeloma. Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.

Why would a doctor order an Immunofixation test?

This blood test finds out if your body is making or losing protein in abnormal amounts.. It can also tell if you are having problems absorbing protein from foods. This test helps diagnose or check on conditions linked to health problems like the blood cancer multiple myeloma.

What is Immunofixation procedure?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Immunofixation permits the detection and typing of monoclonal antibodies or immunoglobulins in serum or urine. It is of great importance for the diagnosis and monitoring of certain blood related diseases such as myeloma.

Is UPEP a 24 hour collection?

The UPEP/Protein Electrophoresis urine test detects and measures certain proteins in a 24-hour urine sample. This test uses an electrical field to separate proteins into groups based on size, shape, and electrical charge.

What does UPEP stand for?

The urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) test is used to estimate how much of certain proteins are in the urine.

What is the most definitive test to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma?

Bone marrow biopsy People with multiple myeloma have too many plasma cells in their bone marrow. The procedure used to check the bone marrow is called a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. It can be done either at the doctor’s office or at the hospital.

Is immunofixation a blood test?

An immunofixation blood test, also known as protein electrophoresis, measures certain proteins in the blood. Proteins play many important roles, including providing energy for the body, rebuilding muscles, and supporting the immune system. There are two main types of proteins in the blood: albumin and globulin.

When should I buy immunofixation?

An Immunofixation test is often ordered when someone has symptoms of diseases such as Multiple Myeloma, Waldenstrom’s Macroglobullinema, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Article first time published on

What is the difference between serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation?

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is used to determine the type of each protein present and may indicate a characteristic curve (ie, where the spike is observed). … Immunofixation is used to identify the subtype of protein (ie, IgA lambda).

How do you read immunofixation results?

Immunofixation can either reveal a normal pattern or identify a monoclonal protein or a polyclonal immunoglobulin pattern. A normal result includes a darker immunoglobulin G (IgG) lane, a lighter immunoglobulin A (IgA), an absent immunoglobulin M (IgM), and a denser kappa compared to lambda lane, with ratio of 2:1.

What is the difference between immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation?

Immunofixation identified the proteins unambiguously in all six sera examined, whereas immunoelectrophoresis gave ambiguous results in one of the sera with high protein concentration and in three of the sera with low protein concentration. The superiority of immunofixation resulted from its greater resolution.

Can you have multiple myeloma without M protein?

Some people with multiple myeloma don’t make enough M proteins or light chains for tests to show they have it. This is called non-secretory myeloma. A bone marrow biopsy can help diagnose this type of myeloma.

How long does it take to get UPEP results?

Results are usually ready in 2 to 3 days.

What is a normal protein creatinine ratio?

Thus, a ratio of less than 0.2 is equivalent to 0.2 g of protein per day and is considered normal, a ratio of 3.5 is equivalent to 3.5 g of protein per day and is considered nephrotic-range (or heavy) proteinuria.

What is considered a high level of M protein?

High levels mean the disease is more advanced and may indicate a poor prognosis. The presence of any M spike is abnormal and shows the presence of an abnormal clone of plasma cells. If the amount of protein is ≥30 g/L and/or there are other disease symptoms, the patient may have myeloma.

What is a normal urine albumin level?

A normal amount of albumin in your urine is less than 30 mg/g. Anything above 30 mg/g may mean you have kidney disease, even if your GFR number is above 60.

Why do I need a 24 hour urine test?

A 24-hour urine collection helps diagnose kidney problems. It is often done to see how much creatinine clears through the kidneys. It’s also done to measure protein, hormones, minerals, and other chemical compounds.

What is gamma globulin in urine?

The gamma-globulin fraction contains the immunoglobulins, a family of proteins that function as antibodies. Antibodies, in response to infection, allergic reactions, and organ transplants, recognize and bind foreign bodies, or antigens, to facilitate their destruction by the immune system.

What does high monoclonal protein mean?

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a condition in which an abnormal protein — known as monoclonal protein or M protein — is in your blood. This abnormal protein is formed within your bone marrow, the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones.

What is usually the first symptom of multiple myeloma?

Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary and, early in the disease, there may be none. When signs and symptoms do occur, they can include: Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest. Nausea.

Who is most likely to get multiple myeloma?

Myeloma occurs most commonly in people over 60. The average age at diagnosis is 70. Only 2% of cases occur in people under 40.

Is multiple myeloma a terminal illness?

Multiple myeloma is classified by stage 1, 2, or 3. In multiple myeloma cases, stage 3 is the terminal stage. This means it’s the most advanced stage of this type of rare cancer. Doctors use the international staging system to determine the stage of the cancer.

Does immunofixation detect light chains?

After recognition of a localized band suggestive of an M protein on SPEP, immunofixation is necessary for confirmation and to determine the heavy- and light-chain class of the M protein.

Is it good to have no monoclonal protein detected?

If a monoclonal protein is identified, its immunoglobulin class (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE) and light chain type (kappa, lambda) are determined by immunofixation. If no monoclonal protein is detected, further testing is not warranted.

What does no Paraprotein detected mean?

If no paraprotein is detected after treatment or light chains return to normal levels, it is considered a complete response (CR). If the paraprotein has fallen and is still detectable and stable after treatment it is considered a partial response (PR).

What are the advantages of Immunofixation electrophoresis over traditional immunoelectrophoresis?

Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) has largely replaced immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) for establishing the presence and isotype of a monoclonal immunoglobulin M-protein in serum and urine (Fig. 93.3). IFE is easier to perform, somewhat more sensitive, and easier to interpret than IEP.

What is a normal Immunofixation pattern?

Immunofixation can either reveal a normal pattern or identify a monoclonal protein or a polyclonal immunoglobulin pattern. A normal result includes a darker immunoglobulin G (IgG) lane, a lighter immunoglobulin A (IgA), an absent immunoglobulin M (IgM), and a denser kappa compared to lambda lane, with ratio of 2:1.

What is an abnormal protein band?

When an abnormal band on either a serum or a urine electrophoresis pattern suggests the presence of a single type of immunoglobulin (monoclonal), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) or immunosubtraction electrophoresis can be used as follow-up tests to further identify abnormal proteins.

What does high immunoglobulin M mean?

High levels of IgM can mean macroglobulinemia, early viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome), or a parasite infection is present.