Laboratory screening of monoclonal gammopathies: incidence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulins during a five years survey in a general hospital.

During a five years survey of unselected serum protein electrophoreses in a general hospital, 2347 sera (0.95%) were found to be positive for one or more monoclonal immunoglobulins. Class and type distribution of monoclonal immunoglobulins (characterized by means of immunofixation electrophoresis) mostly corresponded with the literature data.