Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP)

Serum Protein Electrophoresis Protein ELP SPE SPEP Gel Electrophoresis Capillary Electrophoresis Immunosubtraction Electrophoresis Urine Protein Electrophoresis UPE UPEP IFE CSF Protein Electrophoresis Electrophoresis

Why test for Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP)

Protein electrophoresis is used to identify and measure the presence of abnormal proteins, the absence of normal proteins, and/or to detect various protein electrophoresis patterns associated with certain conditions, as found in blood, urine or other body fluids.

The information from protein electrophoresis can provide clues that a disease or condition is affecting protein production or loss of protein, but the results usually do not provide a definitive diagnosis. Instead, additional follow-up tests are needed to investigate the cause and to try to identify the nature of the underlying disease.

Serum electrophoresis may be used to:

• Help in the diagnose and monitoring of lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia or monoclonal gammopathies, such as multiple myeloma
• Investigate abnormal findings on other laboratory tests, such as total protein, albumin level, elevated calcium levels, or low white or red blood cell counts
• Evaluate someone for an inflammatory condition, an autoimmune disease, an infection, a kidney or liver disorder

Urine protein electrophoresis may be used:

• In the investigation of multiple myeloma
• To investigate the cause of abnormally high amounts of proteins in urine (various forms and causes of proteinuria)

When an abnormal band on either a serum or a urine electrophoresis pattern suggests the presence of a single type of immunoglobulin (monoclonal), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) or immunosubtraction electrophoresis can be used as follow-up tests to further identify abnormal proteins.

CSF protein electrophoresis may be used:

• To look for the characteristic banding pattern that may be seen in multiple sclerosis (oligoclonal bands)
• To evaluate a person with headaches or other neurologic symptoms and look for proteins suggestive of inflammation or infection that would explain the symptoms

SOURCE: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/protein-electrophoresis-immunofixation-electrophoresis