What is immunofixation?
immunofixation is a laboratory test that a doctor can order to look for the presence of specific proteins in a blood or urine sample. The aim is sometimes diagnostic, learning more about the health problem, and in other cases, the physician may order a test to assess the patient's reaction to treatment or monitor the ongoing medical problem. The immunofixation test can check the symptoms of cancer and certain diseases and require about three hours of laboratory time. The current protein forces in the sample are organized by size, group as similar. The technician adds antigens to the gel. If antigens find antibodies to which it can be reacted, they form a dark stripe. The stripe indicates a positive test that shows antibodies in the sample. The technician writes the results for the doctor.
The immunofixation test is very useful for looking for monoclonal immunoglobulins. They arise when all clones of parent cells produce identical immunoglobulins, as can be seen in patients with conditions such as myeloma. We do not necessarily know a positive resultNAT that the patient has cancer or other diseases associated with monoclonal immunoglobulin, but it can certainly be an indicator of need for further diagnostic testing to determine the cause.
One of the advantages of immunofixation is the relative speed compared to other available tests. It can also be more sensitive. In a hospital with its own laboratory facilities, the results can be turned very quickly if the laboratory does not have a heavy workload. Patients with worries about how long they need to wait for test results can ask their doctors what to expect.
As with other laboratory tests, positive and negative results on the immunofixation test may not necessarily be final. Many factors can lead to false results and the doctor may want to follow the next test. It is also possible to have an ambiguous result where there is not enough information to draw any fixed conclusions aboutthe patient's case. The doctor may ask for a test repeat and find out whether better results can be obtained or may recommend another test. The test results are not enough to start treatment; The physician must also consider any findings from the patient's examination.