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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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SERUM PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS REFLEX PROFILE

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3052    Geisinger Epic ID:  32246

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

1 mL serum; minimum 0.5 mL



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow to clot. Centrifuge and submit 1 mL of serum.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred). Room temperature (stable 8 hours) and frozen specimens also acceptable.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 8 hours. 2-8°C: 3 days. Frozen: 6 months.


Rejection criteria: 

Specimen stability exceeded; specimen grossly hemolyzed.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 
 gm/dL
Albumin3.3-4.4
Alpha-10.1 - 0.3
Alpha-20.6 - 1.0
Beta0.8 - 1.3
Gamma0.7 - 1.7
Total Protein6.0 - 8.3

CPT code(s):  84165
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Total protein and serum electrophoresis with interpretation. Based on pathologist review, testing may reflex to Serum Immunofixation (IFES), Immunoglobulin Quantitation (GAM) and/or Kappa/Lambda Ratio at an additional charge.


Methodology: 
Electrophoresis
Synonyms: 

SPEP, Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE), EPGSP


Clinical significance: 

Serum protein electrophoresis evaluates 5 major protein fractions (albumin, alpha 1, alplha 2, beta and gamma) in serum to determine if there are deficiencies or increases that can have association with diseases such as macroglobulinemia, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or multiple myeloma.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Benjamin Andress, PhD, DABCC
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Review Date:  01/14/2025

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