We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Immunofixation?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 16,260
Share

Immunofixation is a lab test a doctor can 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 the test to assess a patient's response to treatment or monitor an ongoing medical issue. The immunofixation test can check for signs of cancers and certain diseases, and requires around three hours of lab time.

In this test, a technician takes a sample and subjects it to electrophoresis, where a current runs through a gel matrix with the sample. The current forces 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 stripe. The stripe indicates a positive test, showing antibodies of concern in the sample. The technician will write up the results for the doctor.

The immunofixation test is very useful for looking for monoclonal immunoglobulins. These arise when numerous clones of a parent cell are all producing identical immunoglobulins, as seen in patients with conditions like myeloma. A positive result does not necessarily mean a patient has cancer or another disease associated with monoclonal immunoglobulins, but it can certainly be an indicator of the need for further diagnostic testing to determine the cause.

One advantage of immunofixation is relative rapidity, when compared with other available tests. It can also be more sensitive. In a hospital with its own lab facilities, it may be possible to turn results around very quickly, unless the lab has a heavy work load. Patients with concerns about how long they need to wait for test results can ask their doctors about what to expect.

As with other lab 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 up. It is also possible to have an ambiguous result, where there is not enough information available to draw any firm conclusions about the patient's case. A doctor may ask to repeat the test and see if it is possible to get better results, or may recommend a different test. Test results alone are not enough to start treatment; the doctor also needs to consider any findings from the patient's examination.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By starrynight — On Aug 03, 2011

@JessicaLynn - A friend of mine actually had an immunofixation test awhile back. I'm glad to hear the lab technician may have actually enjoyed doing!

Unfortunately, my friends test came out positive and really scared her! However, upon further testing my friend didn't have myeloma or anything like that, which was a relief.

However, her doctors are still trying to figure out what actually is wrong with her!

By JessicaLynn — On Aug 02, 2011

A friend of mine works in a lab doing stuff like this all day. Her job sounds pretty interesting to me, but it does require a Masters degree. I don't think I'm willing to go back to school at this point in life, so I just live vicariously through her lab stories!

Electrophoresis is her favorite lab test to perform. She told me she really likes how clearly you can see the reaction. She said it's one of the easiest lab tests to read the results from.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-immunofixation.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.