Free kappa and free lambda light chains are now available in the Riqas Specific Proteins EQA programme for a one-year pilot study
Accurate results are vital in determining the most appropriate treatment plan for individual patients and for monitoring disease progression.
Inaccuracy is commonplace in free light chains testing due to a number of factors.
Heterogeneity of the protein between patients results in variable cross-reactivity with antisera used in testing.
In immunoassays, reduced cross-reactivity produces falsely low results; with electrophoretic techniques it can cause blurring of the bands, making it difficult to correctly interpret results.
Prozone effects and polyclonal free light chains from normal plasma cells are additional sources of imprecision.
Free light chains tests are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of light chain-associated amyloidosis and in monoclonal gammopathies such as multiple myeloma.
Free kappa and lambda light chains are antibody fragments secreted by plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Plasma cells secrete either kappa or lambda free light chains into the bloodstream as a by-product of antibody production.
In myeloma the proliferation of malignant plasma cells leads to an increase in free light chains levels.
The Specific Proteins EQA programme comprises 26 protein analytes including free and total light chains, C-reactive protein, complement proteins, immunoglobulins and rheumatoid factor.
The programme has been running for 15 years and is assessed biweekly in six-monthly cycles.
Samples are liquid and stable to expiry when stored at 2-8C.
Randox International Quality Assessment Scheme (Riqas) is an EQA scheme used by 7000 laboratories worldwide.
It offers nine flexible programmes covering 161 analytes.
Riqas EQA can provide confidence in test results by comparing your performance with that of other laboratories worldwide.
Randox has 25 years experience in the manufacture of quality control materials and also offers a range of QC sera supported by 247 peer group reporting software.
