Identification of subclass of IgG and IgA type M-proteins using MINIFIX^TM immunofixation electrophoresis kit

Abstract

Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) is used routinely to identify monoclonal immunoglobulins (M-proteins) in serum and Bence Jones proteins in urine. A method for subclass typing of IgG and IgA type M-proteins using MINIFIX^TM IFE kit is described in this paper. The antisera prepared for MINIFIX^TM kit (IgG and IgA subclass sets), were used and M-proteins in 20 patient sera were analyzed. The subclass types of the M-proteins were identified as seven IgG₁, one IgG₂, two IgG₃, seven IgA₁, two IgA₂ and one IgG₁-IgA₁ multi type. These results did not conflicted with those of western blotting analysis. The MINIFIX^TM IFE kit is useful for identification of the subclasses of IgG and IgA type M-proteins. The MINIFIX^TM IFE kit employs regular-sized agarose gels (102×77mm) but because of the reduced track width, will allow two patient samples per gel. Consequently, the MINIFIX^TM IFE system offers excellent economy with each kit containing all the necessary reagents.