Quantification of β-region IgA monoclonal proteins -s houl dw ei nclude immunochemical

Accurat em easurement of Ig Am onoclonal proteins presents as ignificant challenge to laboratory staff. Ig Ah eavy/ligh tc hain (Hevylite, HLC) analysis is an alternative methodology for monoclonal protein assess- ment ,g ivin ga ni ndependent measur eo fI gAκ and IgAλ concentrations .C lonality is assessed by calculatin gt he ratio of involve di mmunoglobulin to background unin- volve di mmunoglobulin concentrations (e.g. IgAκ/IgAλ in an IgAκ patient). Here we discuss the challenge sf aced by the laboratory in Ig Am onoclonal protein assessment ,a nd compar et he performanc eo fH evylit ea ssays with electro- phoresis and total Ig Ar esults. We present data whic hv ali- dates the use of Hevylit ef or response assessment: in most cases ,H evylit ep rovides comparable response assign- ment to that provided by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and total IgA; in other cases Hevylit ep rovides addi- tional information, suc ha sd etection of residual disease or relapse.