Interpretation
No monoclonal band detected – Immunofixation did not identify any protein. There is no band visible on electrophoresis. In some instances patients with abnormal serum free light chain results may have no detectable monoclonal band. This is rare but has been observed.
Small band not clearly identified – A small band is evident on electrophoresis, but is not identified with immunofixation.
Small band of possible … – A small band is identified on electrophoresis and is vaguely detected on immunofixation. Identity is uncertain.
Monoclonal band detected, identified as … – A distinct band is identified on electrophoresis and is clearly identified on immunofixation and reported. More than one band may be identified.
Test Method
Immunofixation electrophoresis is performed in four stages:
1) separation of proteins by electrophoresis on an agarose gel;
2) immunofixation (immunoprecipitation) and fixation of the electrophoresed proteins;
3) removal of unprecipitated soluble proteins by blotting and washing;, and
4) staining of the precipitated proteins for visualization.
