Urine Protein Electrophoresis (UPEP), 24 Hour with Reflex To UIFE

Label Mnemonic: SMPU
Epic code: LAB9837
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
Urine
Specimen Instructions:

Collect urine in a sterile cup.  Transfer 30–50 mL into 3 or more BD Vacutainer No Additive Yellow Top Tubes.

Collection Medium:
Urine
Minimum:

30 mL random urine; no preservatives are acceptable.

Testing Schedule:

Monday through Friday

Reference Range:

PROTEIN, TOTAL

<229 mg/24 hours

Reference values have not been established for patients younger than 18 years.

 

ELECTROPHORESIS, PROTEIN

The following fractions, if present, will be reported as mg/24 h:

  • Albumin
  • Alpha-1-globulin
  • Alpha-2-globulin
  • Beta-globulin
  • Gamma-globulin

M-PROTEIN ISOTYPE

No monoclonal protein detected

Comments:

The presence of a monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain in the urine is seen in multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, primary systemic amyloidosis and light-chain deposition disease, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and idiopathic Bence-Jones proteinuria. The presence of a monoclonal light chain can produce renal insufficiency, may be deposited as amyloid fibrils, may damage the proximal tubes producing Fanconi syndrome, or light chains may deposit in the glomerulus and cause light-chain deposition disease.

 

Heavy-chain fragments as well as light chains may be seen in the urine of patients with multiple myeloma or amyloidosis.

 

Monoclonal gammopathies are rarely seen in patients younger than 30 years.

 

Hemolysis may cause a discrete band on protein electrophoresis, which will be negative on isotyping.

 

Penicillin may split the albumin band.

 

Radiographic agents may produce an uninterpretable pattern.

 

New method introduced March 3, 2026

 

References:

 

1. Abraham RS, Barnidge DR. Protein analysis in the clinical immunology laboratory. In: Detrick BD, Hamilton RG, Schmitz JL eds. Manual of Molecular and Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 8th ed. 2016:chap 4

 

2. Sykes E, Posey Y. Immunochemical characterization of immunoglobulins in serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. In: Detrick B, Hamilton RG, Schmitz JL, eds. Molecular and Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 8th ed. Wiley; 2016:chap 9

Methodology:

Electrophoresis, MALDI-ToF

CPT Code:
84156
84166 Electrophoresis, protein (if appropriate)
0077U