Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE) and Immunofixation Electrophoresis (IFE)
Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE) is particularly suitable for the initial screening of serum (or concentrated urine) for monoclonal immunoglobulins and free light chains (Bence Jones proteins), aiding in the diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathies.
Immunofixation (IFE) combines the electrophoretic separation of proteins followed by immunoprecipitation using monospecific antisera. It is a routinely used method to identify immunoglobulins and free light chains and has reasonable sensitivity to low levels of monoclonal immunoglobulins as may be found in early cases of myelomatosis.
Quantification of free light chains can be performed by automated methods using Freelite.
