Method for detecting monoclonal antibodies
Pipetting anti-immunoglobulins to immunofixation panel. The panel simultaneously tests 4 patients (one in each quadrant). Each patient has 6 electrophoresis panels: The left one is a conventional serum protein electrophoresis . The remainder get solutions with anti-IgG, anti-IgA, anti-IgM, anti-kappa light chain and anti-lambda light chain immunoglobulin, respectively from left to right. Each anti-immunoglobulin solution is artificially colored to ensure that the solution matches the color map at top.
Immunofixation electrophoresis, schematic representation: - A. Normal serum - B. Monoclonal intact immunoglobulin IgGλ - C, D. Monoclonal intact immunoglobulin IgDλ and free light chain λ (Fλ). Con. = Conventional electrophoresis staining of the total protein.
Immunofixation permits the detection and typing of monoclonal antibodies or immunoglobulins in serum or urine . It is of great importance for the diagnosis and monitoring of certain blood related diseases such as myeloma .