IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS (IFE), 24 HOUR URINE

IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS IS A LABORATORY TEST USED TO IDENTIFY AND CHARACTERIZE SPECIFIC PROTEINS IN THE BLOOD OR URINE, PRIMARILY ANTIBODIES (IMMUNOGLOBULINS). DIAGNOSIS OF MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES: THIS TEST IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR DIAGNOSING AND CLASSIFYING MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES, WHICH ARE CONDITIONS CHARACTERIZED BY THE OVERPRODUCTION OF A SINGLE TYPE OF ANTIBODY BY A CLONE OF PLASMA CELLS. THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDE: MULTIPLE MYELOMA: A CANCER OF PLASMA CELLS IN WHICH A SINGLE TYPE OF ANTIBODY (M-PROTEIN) IS PRODUCED IN LARGE QUANTITIES. MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFICANCE (MGUS): A NON-CANCEROUS CONDITION THAT CAN SOMETIMES PROGRESS TO MULTIPLE MYELOMA. WALDENSTR MACROGLOBULINEMIA: A SLOW-GROWING CANCER OF B-CELLS THAT PRODUCES A SPECIFIC TYPE OF M-PROTEIN. MONITORING TREATMENT: THE TEST CAN ALSO BE USED TO MONITOR A PATIENTS RESPONSE TO TREATMENT FOR THESE CONDITIONS BY TRACKING THE PRESENCE AND QUANTITY OF THE MONOCLONAL PROTEIN.