Technology
An enhancement of immunoelectrophoresis in which a series of post-electrophoretic gel slabs are layered with cellulose-acetate gels saturated with specific antibodies. The resulting antigen-antibody complexes fixed on the second gel may then be stained, allowing sensitive and specific qualitative visual identification of paraproteins by electrophoretic position. It can be used to identify specific proteins in the blood or urine. It has greatest application in the identification and monitoring of monoclonal proteins that are produced in conditions like Waldenstom's macroglobulinaemia and multiple myeloma.
Diagnostic Methods
Technology
Light Microscopy is a technique for producing visible images of structures or details which are too small to be otherwise seen by the human eye. It involves passing light transmitted through or reflected from the subject through a series of lenses to be detected directly by the eye, imaged on a photographic plate, or captured digitally.
Diagnostic Methods
Technology
Mass spectrometers coupled in series. The targeted compound is selectively ionized, and its characteristic ions are separated from others in the mixture in the first mass spectrometer. The selected primary ions are then decomposed by collision, and from the resulting products the final mass analyzer selects secondary ions characteristic of the targeted compound. Tandem mass spectrometry can achieve specificities and sensitivities equivalent of those of methods such as radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, while performing analyses in much shorter times.
Diagnostic Methods
