Test Catalog

Test Id : FHLCA

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Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Heavy and Light Chain (HLC) Pairs, Kappa and Lambda with Ratio

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

For the quantitative measurement of human IgA heavy chain and light chain intact immunoglobulin in serum. The result can be used when monitoring previously diagnosed IgA multiple myeloma patients and is used in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings.

Heavy and light chain pair quantitation may be useful for:

1. Distinguishing between broadly migrating monoclonal proteins and restricted polyclonal immunoglobulin patterns on serum protein electrophoresis.

2. Quantitating monoclonal IgA proteins that are difficult to quantitate using serum protein electrophoresis alone.

3. Providing a more specific quantitation of the monoclonal protein than total IgA measurements alone.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Turbidimetric

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

IgA Heavy Light Chains (HLC), S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Hevylite IgA

HLC IgA

IgA Kappa:Lamda HLC Ratio

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube:  Red top or SST

Specimen Volume: 0.75 mL

 

Collection Instructions: Draw blood in a plain red-top tube, serum gel tube(s) is also acceptable. Separate serum immediately after coagulation (30 minutes) to prevent hemolysis. Send 0.75 mL of serum refrigerated in a plastic vial.

 

NOTE: Patient should be fasting for eight hours to avoid lipemic sample interference.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.5 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Hemolysis Mild reject; Gross reject
Lipemia Mild reject; Gross reject
Icterus NA
Other Microbially-contaminated specimen; specimen containing particulate matter

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Ambient 14 days
Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

For the quantitative measurement of human IgA heavy chain and light chain intact immunoglobulin in serum. The result can be used when monitoring previously diagnosed IgA multiple myeloma patients and is used in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory findings.

Heavy and light chain pair quantitation may be useful for:

1. Distinguishing between broadly migrating monoclonal proteins and restricted polyclonal immunoglobulin patterns on serum protein electrophoresis.

2. Quantitating monoclonal IgA proteins that are difficult to quantitate using serum protein electrophoresis alone.

3. Providing a more specific quantitation of the monoclonal protein than total IgA measurements alone.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Elevated serum concentrations of monoclonal protein are indicative of an underlying abnormality, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), multiple myeloma, and other lymphoproliferative disorders. International guidelines recommend serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) densitometry to be performed to quantify monoclonal proteins. However, monoclonal IgA proteins can often be obscured by other proteins in the Beta region of a SPE gel, making quantification inaccurate.

Nephelometry can be used in these instances to measure total IgA, but this will include nontumor immunoglobulin, and measurement of either IgA Kappa or IgA Lambda may give a more accurate representation of tumor production. Furthermore, measurement of both IgA Kappa and IgA Lambda, calculation of the IgA Kappa:IgA Lambda ratio and comparison with values found in normal subjects can give a more sensitive indication of clonality. Use of the IgA Kappa:IgA Lambda ratio will also compensate for any changes in plasma volume.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

IgA Kappa (g/L): 0.48-2.82

IgA Lambda (g/L): 0.36-1.98

IgA Kappa:IgA Lambda ratio: 0.80-2.04

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

An elevated IgA heavy and light chain (HLC) pair ratio suggests a clonal proliferation of an IgA Kappa clone of plasma cells.

A low IgA HLC pair ratio suggests a clonal proliferation of an IgA Lambda clone of plasma cells.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Decisions on patient evaluation and management must not be given on the basis of IgA Kappa, IgA Lambda, or IgA Kappa:IgG Lambda ratio measurements alone. Clinical history and other laboratory findings must be taken into account.

Heavy and light chain (HLC) quantitation should be used as a complementary method to serum protein electrophoresis.

The effect of therapeutic drugs on the measurement of IgA Kappa and IgA Lambda by this assay has not been evaluated.

Small increases in the concentrations of monoclonal IgA proteins may not result in an altered HLC pair ratio.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Smith A, Wisloff F, Samson D; UK Myeloma Forum; Nordic Myeloma Study Group; British Committee for Standards in Haematology. (2005) Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma 2005. Br J Haematol. 2006 Feb; 132(4):410-451. PubMed 16412016

2. Bradwell AR, Harding S, Drayson M, Mead G. Novel nephelometric assays give a sensitive measure of residual disease in multiple myeloma (MM). Br J Haematol. 2008; 141(s1):39. Abstract 107.

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Tuesday, Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

1 to 9 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

LabCorp Burlington

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

83883 x 2

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
FHLCA IgA Heavy Light Chains (HLC), S 74773-3
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
Z5616 IgA Kappa, S 74864-0
Z5617 IgA Lambda, S 74865-7
Z5618 IgA K/L HLC Ratio 74869-9

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Changes - Referral Fee 2023-06-12