What does protein electrophoresis urine test for?
Urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) is a test your doctor can use to determine if there’s protein in your urine. It can also help your doctor find out how much of each type of protein is present.
What is meant by serum and urine electrophoresis?
Electrophoresis is used to identify the presence or absence of abnormal proteins and to identify when different groups of proteins are increased or decreased in serum or urine. It is frequently used to detect and identify monoclonal proteins (an excessive production of one specific immunoglobulin).
What is the major clinical use of serum and urine protein electrophoresis?
Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. Electrophoresis separates proteins based on their physical properties, and the subsets of these proteins are used in interpreting the results.
What is a normal urine protein electrophoresis?
Normal Results Urine albumin is less than 5 mg/dL. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different specimens. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
How is serum protein electrophoresis performed?
It involves exposing serum placed in a special type of gel to an electric current. This causes the different types of proteins to move and group together. The proteins create separate bands on the gel, which are then analyzed by the laboratory.
Why protein electrophoresis is done?
The test separates proteins in the blood based on their electrical charge. The protein electrophoresis test is often used to find abnormal substances called M proteins. The presence of M proteins can be a sign of a type of cancer called myeloma, or multiple myeloma.
What causes abnormal protein electrophoresis?
The protein electrophoresis test is often used to find abnormal substances called M proteins. The presence of M proteins can be a sign of a type of cancer called myeloma, or multiple myeloma. Myeloma affects white blood cells called plasma cells in the bone marrow.
What happens if serum protein is high?
High total protein: Too much protein in your blood can be a sign of chronic infection or inflammation (like HIV/AIDS or viral hepatitis). It can also be an early sign of a bone marrow disorder. Low A/G ratio: This might be the sign an autoimmune disorder, where your body’s immune system attacks healthy cells.