Combined light chain immunofixation to detect monoclonal gammopathy: a comparison to standard electrophoresis in serum and urine.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a combined κ and λ light chain immunofixation (CLIF) as a screening tool to detect monoclonal immunoglobulins in serum and urine. A secondary aim was to investigate the impact on workflow and reagent utilisation of a systematic implementation of CLIF in addition to routine protein electrophoresis (PE) on all samples.

Methods: Light chain antisera (κ and λ) were mixed in a 1:1 ratio and loaded in the same sequence as the PE to create a superimposable image.

Evaluation of HbA1C results in an external quality assessment scheme in South Africa.

Background: Measuring HbA1c blood levels allows us to assess average glycaemia in individuals during the preceding 6-8 weeks. There is a clear association between increasing risk of complications with higher HbA1c values and a significant risk reduction of the complications with lower HbA1c values.

Methods: The performance of South African laboratories in an External Quality Assurance scheme for HbA1c is reported.