Immunofixation is a lab test that detects specific proteins in blood or urine. It can help diagnose medical conditions, monitor treatment, and detect monoclonal immunoglobulins. The test uses electrophoresis and antigens to produce results in about three hours. False results are possible, and further testing may be necessary.
Immunofixation is a laboratory test that a doctor may order to look for the presence of particular proteins in a blood or urine sample. Sometimes, the goal is diagnostic, to learn more about a medical problem, and in other cases, a doctor may order testing to assess a patient’s response to treatment or monitor an ongoing medical problem. The immunofixation test can check for signs of cancer and some diseases and takes about three laboratory hours.
In this test, a technician takes a sample and subjects it to electrophoresis, in which a current passes through a gel matrix with the sample. The current forces the proteins in the sample to organize themselves by size, grouping like with like. The technician will add antigens to the gel. If the antigens find antibodies to react to, they create a dark streak. The streak indicates a positive test, showing the antibodies of concern in the sample. The technician will write the results to the doctor.
The immunofixation test is very useful for detecting monoclonal immunoglobulins. These occur when numerous clones of a parent cell all produce identical immunoglobulins, as seen in patients with conditions such as myeloma. A positive result does not necessarily mean that a patient has cancer or another disease associated with monoclonal immunoglobulins, but it can certainly be an indicator that further diagnostic tests are needed to determine the cause.
An advantage of immunofixation is its relative rapidity, compared to other available tests. It can also be more sensitive. In a hospital with its own laboratory facilities, it may be possible to change results very quickly, unless the laboratory is under heavy workload. Patients concerned about how long to wait for test results can ask their doctors what to expect.
As with other laboratory tests, positive and negative results on an immunofixation test are not necessarily definitive. Many factors can lead to false results, and a doctor may want another test to follow. It is also possible to have an ambiguous result, where there is not enough information to draw firm conclusions about the patient’s case. A doctor may ask you to retest and see if you can get better results, or may recommend a different test. Test results alone are not enough to start treatment; the doctor should also consider any findings of the patient’s exam.
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