Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM)

Diagnostic Use

Detecting or monitoring of monoclonal gammopathies and immune deficiencies.

Department

Protein Lab

Delphic Registration Code

IMMG

Laboratory Handling

Test Adds

Stable for 14 days ambient and refrigerated or frozen for 28 days.

Constituent Tests

• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin M

Synonyms

Igs
Paraproteins quantitation

Turnaround Time

3 days

Test Code

3751

Specimen Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)
• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)
• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

Interferences

Quantitation may be unreliable if a cryoglobulin is present.
Gross lipaemia.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.25

Transport to Lab

Ambient (8 - 24 degrees Celsius)

Interpretation

Quantitative analysis does not distinguish between monoclonal or polyclonal immunoglobulin class elevation. Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE) and Immunofixation is usually required to interpret and characterise if any increase is due to the presence of a monoclonal band.

Note: Quantitative analysis may be unreliable if a cryoglobulin is suspected.

Elevations of IgG, IgA, or IgM may occur in gammopathies such as:

•Multiple myeloma or Waldenstroms macroglobulinaemia (IgM)
•Primary systemic amyloidosis
•Monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS)
•Other related disorders.

Polyclonal elevation of immunoglobulins may arise from:

•Proliferative liver diseases (e.g. Hepatitis, cirrhosis)
•Connective tissue diseases
•Infections, acute and chronic.

Immunoglobulin levels may also be elevated if the blood is extracted from the umbilical cord of neonates where there has been an intrauterine or perinatal infection.

Immunoglobulin deficiencies may be due to:

•Immunosupression where a plasma cell dyscrasia exists
•Primary or secondary immune deficiencies
•Coeliac’s disease (IgA only)

Reference Intervals

Analyte	Age	R.I. (g/L)
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)	0 to < 15 Days	3.2 – 14.0
	15 Days to < 1 Year	2.0 – 7.0
	1 to < 4 Years	3.2 – 11.5
	4 to < 10 Years	5.4 – 13.6
	10 to < 19 Years	6.6 – 15.3
	Adult	7.0 – 16.0
Immunoglobulin A (IgA)	0 to < 1 Year	0.0 – 0.3
	1 to < 3 Years	0.0 – 0.9
	3 to < 6 Years	0.3 – 1.5
	6 to < 14 Years	0.5 – 2.2
	14 to < 19 Years	0.5 – 2.9
	Adult	0.7 – 4.0
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)	0 to < 15 Days	0.1 – 0.4
	15 Days to < 13 Weeks	0.1 – 0.7
	13 Weeks to < 1 Year	0.2 – 0.9
	1 to < 19 Years	0.4 – 1.9
	Adult	0.4 – 2.3

Test Method

Nephelometric immunoassay on Siemens BNII.

Contact Canterbury Health Laboratories on +64 3 364 0484 or email LabInfo@cdhb.health.nz

Additional Costing Information

Refer to Protein Chemistry Lab Ext 80334.

Contact Information

Enquiry Form