Protein, Total and Protein Electrophoresis

Test Code

747

Alias/See Also

LAB119: PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM
SPE

CPT Codes
84155, 84165

Preferred Specimen

2 mL serum

Patient Preparation
Overnight fasting is preferred

Minimum Volume

1.5 mL

Transport Container

Transport tube

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 28 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic • Plasma

Methodology
Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE) • Spectrophotometry (SP)

Reference Range

Protein, Total, Serum

	Male (g/dL)	Female (g/dL)
<1 Month	4.1-6.3	4.2-6.2
1-5 Months	4.7-6.7	4.4-6.6
6-11 Months	5.5-7.0	5.6-7.9
1-19 Years	6.3-8.2	6.3-8.2
≥20 Years	6.1-8.1	6.1-8.1

Protein Electrophoresis

Albumin	3.8-4.8 g/dL
Alpha-1 Globulin	0.2-0.3 g/dL
Alpha-2 Globulin	0.5-0.9 g/dL
Beta-1 Globulin	0.4-0.6 g/dL
Beta-2 Globulin	0.2-0.5 g/dL
Gamma Globulin	0.8-1.7 g/dL
Abnormal Protein Band 1	None detected
Abnormal Protein Band 2	None detected
Abnormal Protein Band 3	None detected

Clinical Significance

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is an analytical technique that provides separation of serum protein into six fractions: Albumin, Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2, and Gamma. Interpretation of elevation, decreased, or visual change in different fractions can be used as a diagnostic aid for a variety of different disease states and protein abnormalities, including monoclonal gammopathies (MG).

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA

33608 Ortega Highway

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.