Gammopathies Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Gammopathies and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Currently there has been a revitalization in the clinical usage of electrophoresis. Previously, methods were primarily used to separate proteins in blood and other body fluids. From the following statements, select the statements that correctly describe newer applications of electrophoresis. | View Page |
| Densitometry After electrophoresis, a stained gel is passed through the optical system of a densitometer to create an electrophoregram, a visual diagram or graph of the separated bands. A densitometer is a special spectrophotometer that measures light transmitted through a solid sample such as a cleared or transparent but stained gel. Using the optical density measurements, the densitometer represents the bands as peaks. These peaks compose the graph or electrophoregram and are printed on a recorder chart or computer display. Absorbance and/or fluorescence can be measured with densitometry.An integrator or microprocessor evaluates the area under each peak and reports each as a percent of the total sample. If the electrophoresis is for separation of serum proteins, the concentration of each band is derived from this percent and the total protein concentration. If the electrophoresis is for separation of enzymes, the enzyme activity of each band is derived from this percent and the total enzyme activity. The densitometer scan below depicts the separated bands from a serum sample electrophoresis. The SPIFE 3000, Helena Laboratories, electrophoresis splits the beta zone into two fractions for easier detection of small beta-migrating monoclonal gammopathies. The densitometer scan from this electrophoresis shows five bands with two peaks in the beta band. | View Page |
| Resurgence of Electrophoresis Traditionally most clinical laboratory electrophoresis utilizes methods that separate and identify proteins in serum, urine, CSF, and some other body fluids. Most studies are for detecting serum protein abnormalities and gathering more information about gammopathies.In recent years, there has been a resurgence in electrophoresis use and methods. Development of automated methods has enhanced this. The evolution of numerous molecular diagnostic investigations and research in proteomics have also augmented electrophoresis.Applications of two-dimensional electrophoresis discussed the use of electrophoresis in proteomics. Electrophoresis and molecular diagnostics, blotting techniques, and current uses of CE in molecular diagnostics will be discussed now. | View Page |
| The arrangement of the erythrocytes in this peripheral smear should be reported out as rouleaux formation. | View Page |