Laboratory Medicine and Quality Assurance

Table. 1.

Responses to the questionnaire examining the status of SPEP and IFE/IT tests conducted by participating institutions for the external quality assessment program

Questions Answer no. (%)
1. How many SPEP and IFE/IT tests are performed per month in your laboratory?
Once a week 4 (13.8)
Twice a week 11 (37.9)
Three or 4 times a week 2 (6.9)
Every weekday 12 (41.4)
2. Does your laboratory routinely conduct SPEP and IFE/IT tests for externally referred samples from other institutions?
Yes 8 (27.6)
No 17 (58.6)
Yes, but only for samples from our own affiliated or partner hospitals 4 (13.8)
3. How many SPEP and IFE/IT tests are performed per month in your laboratory?
Equal or less than 100 tests
SPEP 7 (24.1)
IFE/IT* 12 (41.4)
101–200 tests
SPEP 5 (17.2)
IFE/IT* 5 (17.2)
201–300 tests
SPEP 3 (10.3)
IFE/IT* 1 (3.4)
201–500 tests
SPEP 2 (6.9)
IFE/IT* 1 (3.4)
More than 500 tests
SPEP 12 (41.4)
IFE/IT* 9 (31.0)
4. Which method is used by your laboratory for SPEP and IFE/IT tests?
Capillary zone electrophoresis
SPEP 21 (72.4)
IFE/IT* 11 (37.9)
Agarose gel electrophoresis
SPEP 7 (24.1)
IFE/IT* 11 (37.9)
Re-test by AGE if necessary after CZE
SPEP 1 (3.4)
IFE/IT* 6 (20.7)
5. In which of the following methods do you quantify a monoclonal protein?*
Standard perpendicular drop method 16 (55.2)
Corrected perpendicular drop method 6 (20.7)
Tangent skimming method 7 (24.1)
6. When a monoclonal paraprotein is detected, in which of the following terms do you report?
M-peak 8 (27.6)
Monoclonal peak 4 (13.8)
M-protein 5 (17.2)
Monoclonal protein 3 (10.3)
M-spike 6 (20.7)
Others 3 (10.3)
7. What is the limit of quantitation of a monoclonal paraprotein in your laboratory?
0.01 g/dL 7 (24.1)
0.02 g/dL 3 (10.3)
0.1 g/dL 10 (34.5)
0.2 g/dL 2 (6.9)
Others 7 (24.1)
8. What are the decimal places (1st or 2nd) of the quantities (g/dL) and ratios (%) for each fraction in your laboratory?
1st decimal place
Quantity (g/dL) 16 (55.2)
Ratio (%) 27 (93.1)
2nd decimal place
Quantity (g/dL) 13 (44.8)
Ratio (%) 2 (6.9)
9. What is the name of the instrument your laboratory uses for the SPEP and IFE/IT tests?
Sebia (n=25, 86.2%)
Capillarys 2 3 (10.3)
Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing 7 (24.1)
Capillarys 3 3 (10.3)
Capillarys 3 Octa 5 (17.2)
Capillarys 3 Tera 4 (13.8)
Hydrasis 2 3 (10.3)
Helena laboratory (n=4, 13.8%)
Spife 3000 3 (10.3)
Titan Gel 1 (3.4)

Abbreviations: SPEP, serum protein electrophoresis; IFE, immunofixation electrophoresis; IT, immunotyping; AGE, agarose gel electrophoresis; CZE, capillary zone electrophoresis.

*One laboratory performs only SPEP but not IFE/IT for routine testing. Monoclonal immunoglobulin, or paraprotein. 0.017 g/dL, 0.025 g/dL, 0.05 g/dL, or no limitations were set.

Lab Med Qual Assur 2024;46:43~54 https://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2024.46.1.43
© Lab Med Qual Assur