Schematic representation of a protein<unk>  gel<unk>  <unk> P or<unk>  is a laboratory test that examines<unk> cific proteins in the blood called globulins. The most common indications for a<unk>  test are to diagnose or monitor multiple myeloma, a monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS), or further investigate a discrepancy between a low albumin and a relatively high total protein. Unexplained bone pain, anemia, proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, and hypercalcemia are also signs of multiple myeloma, and indications for<unk> . Blood must first be collected, usually into an airtight vial or syringe.<unk>  is a laboratory technique in which the blood serum (the fluid portion of the blood after the blood has clotted) is applied to either an acetate membrane soaked in a liquid buffer, or to a buffered agarose gel matrix, or into liquid in a capillary tube, and exposed to an electric current to separate the serum protein components into five major fractions by size and electrical charge: serum albumin, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2 globulins, beta 1 and 2 globulins, and gamma globulins.
Serum protein electrophoresis
Bone biopsy
Muscle biopsy
Urine protein/creatinine ratio
Serum free light-chain measurement
Hemoglobin electrophoresis
Bone scintigraphy
Skin biopsy