Serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation by a semiautomated electrophoresis system
Bossuyt, X.; Bogaerts, A.; Schiettekatte, G.; Blanckaert, N.
Clinical Chemistry 44(5): 944-949
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9147 PMID: 9590366 Document Number: 496295
Semi-automated agarose electrophoresis and immunofixation performed with Hydrasys-Hyrys (Sebia) were compared with conventional, manually performed methods, including cellulose acetate electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunofixation. Reference intervals for agarose electrophoresis with Hydrasys-Hyrys were determined. Within-run imprecision (CV) for fraction quantitation with the semi-automated system was between 1% (albumin) and 4.5% (beta-globulin). Total imprecision (CV) was between 2.7% (albumin) and 7.3% (beta-globulin). Semi-automated agarose electrophoresis showed linear correlation with cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Thirty-four specimens with monoclonal components were analyzed by manual immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation and by Hydrasys. In one case, a light-chain disease was missed with Hydrasys when the sample was diluted 1:3 (the routine dilution) but not when the sample was assayed undiluted. In another case, the Hydrasys system revealed a small IgGlambda monoclonal component in addition to the IgA monoclonal component detected by the manual methods. In the other cases, no differences between the manual methods and the semi-automated method were seen with respect to paraprotein identification.