Immunoglobulins G, A, M - serum
Last updated: Wednesday, 17, March, 2004
| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 mL blood in plain tube. |
| Method | Immunoassay. |
| Reference Interval | Varies with age - see Table 2. |
| Application | Assessment of patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infection, sepsis, gastrointestinal infection or other clinical presentations suggestive of immunoglobulin deficiency. Electrophoresis ± immunofixation is required to exclude the presence of a paraprotein. Detection of hypogammaglobulinaemia and monitoring immunoglobulin levels in patients with multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. |
| Interpretation | Normal immunoglobulin levels do not exclude humoral immunodeficiency. Further studies, such as assessment of antibody response following administration of vaccines and/or IgG subclasses, may be required if there is a high degree of clinical suspicion. |
| Reference | Check IJ and Papadea C. In: Rose NR et al eds. Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 5th ed. 1998. |