Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
TUMOR MARKER.
Synonyms/Aliases
PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM.
Abbreviations
SPE.
Type
PROFILE/ PANEL (BUNDLED TESTS).
5 Days
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 5 WORKING DAYS.
Method
SCANNING DENSITOMETRY OR CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS.
Temp
REFRIGERATED.
Setup
BATCHED.
Components Parameters
TOTAL PROTEIN AND FRACTIONS (ALBUMIN, ALPHA 1, ALPHA 2, BETA 1, BETA 2, GAMMA GLOBULIN FRACTIONS).
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
N/A
Sample type
SERUM.
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
NEGATIVE FOR AN M-BAND/ M-SPIKE/ PARAPROTEIN.
Clinical Utility
DIAGNOSE & MONITOR PATIENTS WITH MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES E.G. MULTIPLE MYELOMA.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
PSEUDOPARAPROTEINEMIA CAN OCCUR E.G. DUE TO TESTING PLASMA (FIBRINOGEN BAND) INSTEAD OF SERUM, CONTRAST INTERFERENCE ETC. LOW OR NEGATIVE MONOCLONAL BAND MAY OCCUR IN LIGHT CHAIN MYELOMA BUT THE M-BAND WILL BE DETECTED IN URINE.