IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING OF MONOCLONAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS BY MOLECULAR MASS

摘要

Disclosure herein are methods for determining whether or not an immunoglobulin is present above the polyclonal background level in a biological sample, and methods for determining whether an immunoglobulin contains a kappa or lambda light chain. These methods are useful for screening biological samples for the presence or absence of monoclonal gammopathy, and for diagnosing and monitoring monoclonal gammopathy in a subject.

主权项

1. A method of determining whether or not an immunoglobulin is present above the polyclonal background in a sample, the method comprising:
a. providing a sample comprising variable region-containing immunoglobulins; b. subjecting the sample to a mass spectrometry technique to obtain a mass spectrum of the sample; and c. determining whether or not an immunoglobulin is present above the polyclonal background level by detecting the presence or absence of an M-protein peak in the mass spectrum.