What is a immunofixation test for?
The immunofixation blood test is used to identify proteins called immunoglobulins in blood. Too much of the same immunoglobulin is usually due to different types of blood cancer. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that help your body fight infection.
What can Spep diagnose?
SPEP is used to help diagnose and monitor a variety of different diseases or disorders that have abnormal proteins or protein levels....Some of the conditions that could be causing these symptoms are:cancer.thyroid problems.diabetes.anemia.liver diseases.malnutrition.certain autoimmune diseases.multiple sclerosis.
Can you have multiple myeloma with normal immunofixation?
The absence of monoclonal gammopathy on protein electrophoresis or normal immunofixation does not negate the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Therefore, all the sub types of multiple myeloma need to be comprehensively studied to aid in reaching an accurate diagnosis.
What does a normal immunofixation pattern mean?
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.
Does Spep test for leukemia?
SPEP test verifies the results of other laboratory tests, as a part of diagnostics of inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and monitoring of blood proliferative diseases (e.g. multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia).
What cancers cause high protein in blood?
When plasma cells are cancerous and grow out of control, it's called multiple myeloma. These cancer cells build up in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy cells. They also make M proteins. Higher levels of M protein in the blood can lead to complications.
What is usually the first symptom of multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma causes many symptoms, but bone pain often is the first symptom people notice. Other symptoms include: Weakness in your arms and legs and/or a sensation of numbness in your arms and legs. Multiple myeloma can affect the bones in your spine, causing them to collapse and press on your spinal cord.
What blood levels indicate multiple myeloma?
Beta2-microglobulin (ß<2M) level Indicates the presence and the extent of multiple myeloma. It is also an indicator of kidney function. Higher ß2M levels can indicate that more extensive disease is present, helping your doctor determine the stage of the disease.
What markers indicate multiple myeloma?
Diagnosing Multiple MyelomaHigh blood calcium level.Poor kidney function.Low red blood cell counts (anemia)Holes in the bones from tumor found on imaging studies (CT, MRI, PET scan)Increase in one type of light chain in the blood so that one type is 100 times more common than the other.More items...•
Is immunofixation the same as Spep?
In addition, immunofixation technique can also determine the particular isotype of the monoclonal protein. However, immunofixation technique cannot estimate the quantity of the M protein. In contrast, SPEP is capable of estimating the concentration of an M protein.
What diseases does serum protein electrophoresis test for?
Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. Electrophoresis separates proteins based on their physical properties, and the subsets of these proteins are used in interpreting the results.
Does high kappa light chain mean myeloma?
While increased numbers of either arm, called kappa or lambda light chains, is likely bad news that may ultimately mean multiple myeloma, to more accurately diagnose and monitor the condition, we need to evaluate the concentrations of each light chain differently, investigators report.
What diseases does serum protein electrophoresis test for?
Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. Electrophoresis separates proteins based on their physical properties, and the subsets of these proteins are used in interpreting the results.
What does serum protein indicate?
A total serum protein test measures the total amount of protein in the blood. It also measures the amounts of two major groups of proteins in the blood: albumin and globulin. Albumin. This is made mainly in the liver.
What is the most definitive test to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma?
The complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the levels of red cells, white cells, and platelets in the blood. If there are too many myeloma cells in the bone marrow, some of these blood cell levels can be low. The most common finding is a low red blood cell count (anemia).
What does it mean when M protein levels are high?
High levels of M proteins can indicate that a person has multiple myeloma. However, high M protein levels may also be a sign of several other plasma cell disorders, including: solitary plasmacytoma. smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM)
Why Is The SPEP Blood Test ordered?
The presence of a serious disease can sometimes have nonspecific symptoms that are difficult to track down. Someone who is suffering from an overdo...
Is There Any Fasting Or Lifestyle Changes Required?
This blood test can be taken the same day it is ordered. Certain individuals may be asked to change their medications or lifestyle habits so that t...
What Do The SPEP Test Results Mean?
The protein values that are discovered in the SPEP blood test can either have high or low results as an abnormal test. Each is an indication that t...
What Are The Options of An Abnormal SPEP Blood Test?
For most patients that have an abnormal SPEP blood test, simple lifestyle changes can cause the symptoms being experienced to withdrawal. Limited c...