Bgglobulinabnormalserplelphmcnc
A blood test that measures the levels of beta and gamma globulin proteins in your blood to help diagnose various medical conditions.
{"This test separates blood proteins to check for abnormal levels of beta and gamma globulins","Abnormal results may indicate liver disease, infections, immune disorders, or certain cancers","The test requires a simple blood draw and no special preparation is usually needed"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 53588-0
- Short code
- SPEABN
- Synonyms
- B+G-Globulin abnormal SerPl Elph-mCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST), red top tube, or lithium heparin plasma tube
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- electrophoresis
- CPT
- 86334
- SNOMED
- 313376005
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL of serum or plasma (minimum 0.5 mL)
- Stability
- Serum/plasma stable for 7 days at 2-8°C; for longer storage, freeze at -20°C or below. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 100
- Lipemia max
- 100
- Icterus max
- 50
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is a laboratory test that separates the proteins in your blood into different groups called albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta, and gamma globulins. This test specifically looks at the beta and gamma globulin fractions to detect any abnormal bands or patterns that might indicate underlying health conditions.
Gamma globulins are antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) that help your body fight infections. Beta globulins include proteins that carry iron (transferrin) and help with blood clotting. An abnormal band in either region may suggest certain diseases that need further investigation.
Reference range
No abnormal band detected in beta or gamma globulin region. If present, characterized by type (monoclonal vs polyclonal), isotype (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE), and quantitated in g/dL.N/A
No special patient preparation required. Fasting is not necessary.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
An elevated gamma globulin level (hypergammaglobulinemia) may indicate: chronic inflammatory diseases (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), liver disease (cirrhosis), chronic infections, or certain blood cancers such as multiple myeloma or Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
An elevated beta globulin level may suggest: liver disease, certain types of anemia, or kidney disease. Low levels of these proteins may indicate malnutrition or immune deficiencies.
The presence of an abnormal band (M-protein or paraprotein) in the beta or gamma region is particularly important and usually requires follow-up testing to determine the specific cause, as it may be associated with benign conditions or serious diseases like multiple myeloma.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need this test?
How is the test performed?
Do I need to fast before the test?
What do abnormal results mean?
Sources
- 1
- 2
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 15, 2026. · Read our editorial policy