Locally, we have two strategies, handdowns from before Trust megrers.
Two labs do Electrophoresis on all Immunoglobulin requests, but probably don't get more than 120 requests per month each, so this is not too much of a problem.
Third lab automatically do EP on all samples where Globulin on LFT/Bone profile is < 18 or > 36 g/L. Hence in effect a paraprotein screen, with large workload. Still much better than it used to be when it was done on ALL LFT etc profiles.
We are trying to reduce the numbers, and as well are looking at a semiautomated system for EP to reduce the time spent doing the tests and scanning the results.
Gary Mascall
Clinical Biochemistry Department
Kidderminster Hospital
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Tel: 01562 823424 extn 3465
Fax: 01562 513030
email: [log in to unmask]
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