Clinical applications of immunofixation: a more sensitive technique for the detection of Bence Jones protein.

Abstract

Immunofixation in agarose gel was compared with agarose electrophoresis for the detection of Bence Jones protein in urine [of myeloma patients]. The technique has a sensitivity between 5 and 10 times greater than electrophoresis and allows the identification of multiple Bence Jones proteins and Bence Jones protein with fast mobility in the presence of other urinary proteins. In 4 of 12 patients studied, Bence Jones protein was undetectable by electrophoresis of 300 times concentrated urine, but was clearly identified by immunofixation.