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Immunoelectrophoresis - urine - Results

Alternative Names

Immunoglobulin electrophoresis - urine; Gammaglobulin electrophoresis - urine; Urine immunoglobulin electrophoresis; IEP - urine

Normal Values:

Normally there is no, or only a small amount, of protein in the urine. When there is protein in the urine, it normally consists of mainly albumin.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean:

Immunoglobulin (antibodies) in the urine can result from:

Kidney disorders such as IgA nephropathy or IgM nephropathy
Multiple myeloma (a form of cancer)

See also: Immunoelectrophoresis - serum

In some diseases that cause abnormal cell growth (for example, multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia), one type of immunoglobulin -- a monoclonal immunoglobulin -- is produced. This is can be found by immunoelectrophoresis. Some people have monoclonal immunoglobulins, but they do not have such diseases.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is another condition under which the test may be performed.

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Reviewed last on: 6/10/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

McPherson RA and Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:843-5.

Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2005:727-33.

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