Quantitative immunoglobulins

A blood sample is needed. In the lab, the technician places the blood sample on special paper and applies an electric current. The proteins move on the paper and form bands that show the amount of each protein.

Follow instructions on whether or not you need to fast before this test. Certain medicines may affect the results of this test. Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines. Do not stop any medicine before talking to your provider.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

This test is done to look at gamma globulin protein levels in the blood. Identifying the levels of gamma globulins can help diagnose certain medical issues. Gamma globulins include various types of antibodies such as immunoglobulins (Ig) M, G, and A. Certain diseases are associated with producing too many…

Normal value ranges are: Serum globulin: 2.0 to 3.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 20 to 35 grams per liter (g/L) IgM component: 120 to 400 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 1.2 to 4 g/L IgG component: 800 to 1600 mg/dL or 8 to 16 g/L IgA component: 40 to 220 mg/dL or 0.4 to 2.2 g/L Normal value ranges may vary…

Increased gamma globulin proteins may indicate: Acute infection Blood and bone marrow cancers including multiple myeloma , and some lymphomas and leukemias Immune deficiency disorders Long-term ( chronic ) inflammatory disease (for example, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus ) Waldenström…

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:…

Dominiczak MH. Blood and plasma proteins. In: Baynes JW, Dominiczak MH, eds. Medical Biochemistry. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 40. McPherson RA, Riley RS, Massey HD. Laboratory evaluation of immunoglobulin function and humoral immunity. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and…