- Serum Protein Electrophoresis Blood Test
- Protein Electrophoresis Mnemonic Test
- Protein Electrophoresis Mnemonic Chart
- Abnormal Protein Electrophoresis Causes
Visual Mnemonics for serum protein electrophoresis Since its description and introduction to clinical practice, serum protein electrophoresis has been useful as a first-line test for serum albumin and globulins and to identify monoclonal gammopathies, agammaglobulinemia, polyclonal production of immunoglobulins, and increase/decrease of other. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a laboratory technique that’s used to determine the level of some types of proteins in a blood sample. Learn more about why your doctor may recommend it.
- Serum protein electrophoresis (e-lek-tro for-e-esis) or 'SPEP' is a blood test. The test measures the amount of albumin (al-bew-min) and globulins (glah-bew-lins) in your blood. Albumin and globulins are types of protein. A small amount of your blood is put on a special plate. An electric current is sent through the plate.
- Electrophoresis uses an electrolytic cell (ΔG 0, E cell 0), as described in Chapter 12 of MCAT General Chemistry Review. Remember that anions always move toward the anode and cations always move toward the cathode. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is a method for analyzing proteins in their native states.
Med Educ Online. 2013; 18: 10.3402/meo.v18i0.22585.
Serum Protein Electrophoresis Blood Test
Published online 2013 Sep 24. doi: 10.3402/meo.v18i0.22585
Protein Electrophoresis Mnemonic Test
PMID: 24067792
Mnemonics are systems to improve and assist memory. These learning techniques are widely used in different settings; its name was derived from the Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, daughter of Gaia and Uranus. Medicine learning is no exception for use of these tools (1). Mnemonics based in letters and word listings, however, have natural limitations because the language used may not be of general knowledge and therefore not at general reach. On the contrary, visual mnemonics may have a broader reach and be useful regardless of language or cultural background.
Since its description and introduction to clinical practice, serum protein electrophoresis has been useful as a first-line test for serum albumin and globulins and to identify monoclonal gammopathies, agammaglobulinemia, polyclonal production of immunoglobulins, and increase/decrease of other proteins (). The electrophoresis drawing provided by laboratory shows five main protein fractions of serum. Nevertheless, it is sometimes difficult for students, residents, nurses, and non-specialized medical practitioners to remember and recognize these fractions. After dealing with this difficulty with medical students and residents, we propose here an easy to remember, visual mnemonics for this purpose. Cakewalk vst adapter 4 free download. In Figure 1, “A” shows the schematic representation of a normal serum protein electrophoresis densitometric scanning with the albumin fraction α-1, α-2, β, and γ peaks. By holding the right hand as shown “B”, we can recall the shape of the normal electrophoresis, from which we can derive changes in its profile indicating abnormality, mainly in clinically relevant gamma fraction (i.e., a spike for monoclonal gammopathies, a broad peak for polyclonal gammopathies or absence for agammaglobulinemia) (). Although this hand-aided outline is by no means a diagnostic mnemonics for itself, to recall the normal profile and the five main peaks of serum protein electrophoresis scanning is the first step to detect changes/anomalies and alert for further testing and diagnosis by proper techniques.
Right-hand position for serum protein electrophoresis mnemonics.
References
1. Yousaf S, Chaudhry M. Mnemonics for medical undergraduates. Knutsford: PasTest Ltd; 2006. [Google Scholar]
2. O'Connell TX, Horita TJ, Kasravi B. Understanding and interpreting serum protein electrophoresis. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71:105–12. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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Protein Electrophoresis Mnemonic Chart
Interpretation
A characteristic monoclonal band (M-spike) is often found in theurine of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. The initialidentification of an M-spike or an area of restricted migrationshould be followed by immunofixation to identify the immunoglobulinheavy chains and light chains.
Immunoglobulin heavy chain fragments as well as free lightchains may be seen in the urine of patients with monoclonalgammopathies.
The presence of a monoclonal light chain M-spike of greater than1 g/24 hours is consistent with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma ormacroglobulinemia.
The presence of a small amount of monoclonal light chain andproteinuria (total protein >3 g/24 hours) that is predominantlyalbumin is consistent with primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) andlight-chain deposition disease (LCDD).
Abnormal Protein Electrophoresis Causes
Because patients with AL and LCDD may have elevated urinaryprotein without an identifiable M-spike, urine proteinelectrophoresis is not considered an adequate screen for thesedisorders and immunofixation is also recommended.