serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), free light chain kappa and lambda (FLC), heavy/light chain immunoglobulin (HLC), nephelometry (NEPH), turbidimetry (TURB)

Detection of monoclonal immunoglobulin in biochemical laboratories is based on the use of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE). Other methods are available since several years, namely a determination of free light chains kappa and lambda (Freelite, FLC) and recently the level of pairs of heavy / light chain (HevyliteTM, HLC) as well.The aim of our study was to compare the results of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and densitometry values of M-components (DM) with the concentration of free light chains (FLC) and light chains kappa or lambda in the intact immunoglobulin molecule (HLC). Furthermore, we performed comparisons of concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig) and specific pairs of HLC and assessment of the relationship FLC versus HLC.