Location of monoclonal peak as a tool in checking specimen integrity

Objectives: Serum protein electrophoresis is a commonly used test in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. The practice of documenting the location of the peak may serve as delta check flags in SPEP samples. Methods: We report on the inconsistent finding on two tests...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shikhar G. Vyas, Gurmukh Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-08-01
Series:Practical Laboratory Medicine
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235255171630052X
Description
Summary:Objectives: Serum protein electrophoresis is a commonly used test in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. The practice of documenting the location of the peak may serve as delta check flags in SPEP samples. Methods: We report on the inconsistent finding on two tests performed about three months apart. The inconsistency was discovered due to recognition of the change in the location of the monoclonal immunoglobulin on protein electrophoresis. Results: Repeat testing with a third specimen revealed that the first test was run on a wrong specimen. Conclusion: Recording the location of the monoclonal spike is recommended to serve as an additional “delta” check. Keywords: Monoclonal gammopathies, M-peak location, Delta check, Specimen Mislabeling
ISSN:2352-5517