proteinElectrophoresisByImmunofixationBloodTest
Reviewed
Also called: Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), Protein electrophoresis, SPE, Immunofixation electrophoresis, IFE, Serum immunofixation
An immunofixation (IFE) blood test measures the number and type of proteins in your blood.
Specimen: blood
Why this test may be ordered
- Symptoms of multiple myeloma (bone pain, fatigue, anemia, frequent infections, easy bruising, trouble breathing, high calcium levels)
- Symptoms of multiple sclerosis (numbness, vision problems, muscle weakness, trouble walking, dizziness, bladder problems)
- Symptoms of malnutrition or malabsorption (weight loss, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, frequent infections)
- Abnormal results on other blood tests (e.g., low albumin, abnormal total protein, high calcium, low white or red blood cell counts)
- Monitoring a known condition that affects protein levels
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for an immunofixation blood test.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. This usually takes less than five minutes.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Understanding results
Your results will show that your protein levels are in the normal range, or if certain proteins were too high or too low. Many conditions can cause certain protein levels to be high or low.
- Protein levels in the normal range: Your results will show that your protein levels are in the normal range, or if certain proteins were too high or too low. Limitation: Other things can affect your results, such as some vaccines (if you got them in the past six months) and certain medicines. Next step: If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.
- Certain protein subgroups too high or too low: Many conditions can cause certain protein levels to be high or low. Limitation: Other things can affect your results, such as some vaccines (if you got them in the past six months) and certain medicines. Next step: Urine immunofixation tests are often done if immunofixation blood test results were not normal.
- Results can be affected by recent vaccines (within the past 6 months) and certain medicines.
- This test alone does not diagnose a specific condition; it must be interpreted with other clinical information.
- Abnormal results may require follow-up with urine immunofixation or other tests.
What to do next
To understand the results of an immunofixation blood test, your provider will consider your symptoms, age, medical history, and the results of other tests. If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.
- What do my specific protein levels indicate?
- Do I need any additional tests based on these results?
- How do my symptoms and medical history relate to these findings?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: proteinElectrophoresisByImmunofixationBloodTest