Serum protein electrophoresis

Serum protein electrophoresis
Normal serum protein electrophoresis diagram with legend of different zones.
MeSHD001797
Schematic representation of a protein electrophoresis gel

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP or SPE) is a laboratory test that examines specific proteins in the blood called globulins.[1] The most common indications for a serum protein electrophoresis test are to diagnose or monitor multiple myeloma, a monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS), or further investigate a discrepancy between a low albumin and a relatively high total protein. Unexplained bone pain, anemia, proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, and hypercalcemia are also signs of multiple myeloma, and indications for SPE.[2] Blood must first be collected, usually into an airtight vial or syringe. Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique in which the blood serum (the fluid portion of the blood after the blood has clotted) is applied to either an acetate membrane soaked in a liquid buffer,[3] or to a buffered agarose gel matrix, or into liquid in a capillary tube, and exposed to an electric current to separate the serum protein components into five major fractions by size and electrical charge: serum albumin, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2 globulins, beta 1 and 2 globulins, and gamma globulins.

  1. ^ Jenkins, Margaret A. (1999). "Serum Protein Electrophoresis". Clinical Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis. Methods in Molecular Medicine. Vol. 27. pp. 11–20. doi:10.1385/1-59259-689-4:11. ISBN 1-59259-689-4. PMID 21374283.
  2. ^ Harris, Neil S.; Winter, William E. (2012). Multiple Myeloma and Related Serum Protein Disorders: An Electrophoretic Guide. Demos Medical. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-933864-75-4.
  3. ^ Kaplan, A; Savory, J (1965). "Evaluation of a cellulose-acetate electrophoresis system for serum protein fractionation". Clinical Chemistry. 11 (10): 937–42. doi:10.1093/clinchem/11.10.937. PMID 4158264.