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Serum Immunofixation Test – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 5 min read

Serum immunofixation

A serum immunofixation test measures specific proteins in your blood. It helps to identify certain illnesses that are otherwise hard to detect, such as multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. The test is also known as IFE, immunofixation electrophoresis, or protein electrophoresis.

The immunofixation blood test is used to identify proteins called immunoglobulins in the blood. Too much of the same immunoglobulin is usually due to different types of blood cancer. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that help your body fight infection.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

There is no special preparation for this test.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is most often used to check the levels of antibodies associated with certain cancers and other disorders.

Normal Results

A normal (negative) result means that the blood sample had normal types of immunoglobulins. The level of one immunoglobulin was not higher than any other.

What Abnormal Results Mean

An abnormal result may be due to:

  • Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in tissues and organs)
  • Leukemia or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (types of white blood cell cancers)
  • Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph tissue)
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS)
  • Multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer)
  • Other cancers

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

FAQ

What does a positive immunofixation mean?

  • Positive results from the test indicate the presence of abnormal Ig. This may suggest the existence of an underlying health condition, such as an immune system disorder. multiple myeloma.

What diseases does serum protein electrophoresis test for?

  • Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. Electrophoresis separates proteins based on their physical properties, and the subsets of these proteins are used in interpreting the results.

What is immunofixation?

  • Immunofixation “fixes” certain proteins into place with antibodies and then washes away the others before staining them. On a computer screen, these proteins form a pattern of bands. Peaks and valleys in the bands may mean that you may be making too many or too few of certain proteins.

How is immunofixation performed?

  • Answer. Immunofixation consists of an electrophoresis phase and a fixation phase. In the former, the serum is applied to an agarose gel, and the negatively charged serum proteins move toward the cathode under the influence of an electric current. The speed of movement is dictated by their charge.

Why would a doctor order an immunofixation test?

  • The immunofixation blood test is used to identify proteins called immunoglobulins in the blood. Too much of the same immunoglobulin is usually due to different types of blood cancer. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that help your body fight infection.

Why is an immunofixation test done?

  • This test is most often used to help diagnose or monitor a variety of different conditions. These include Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells. Other forms of cancer, such as lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) or leukemia (cancer of blood-forming tissues, such as bone marrow)

What is the difference between serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation?

  • Urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) is used to identify the presence of the Bence Jones protein in the urine. Immunofixation is used to identify the subtype of protein (ie, IgA lambda).

How do you read immunofixation results?

  • Immunofixation can either reveal a normal pattern or identify a monoclonal protein or a polyclonal immunoglobulin pattern. A normal result includes a darker immunoglobulin G (IgG) lane, a lighter immunoglobulin A (IgA), an absent immunoglobulin M (IgM), and a denser kappa compared to the lambda lane, with ratio of 2:1.

How long does it take to get immunofixation results?

  • The Immunofixation (IFE) Serum Test detects and identifies monoclonal immunoglobulin gammopathies, which may indicate conditions such as multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. Preparation: Fasting for 10-12 hours required. Test Results: 2-3 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.

Does immunofixation detect light chains?

  • Second-order testing is performed by immunofixation analysis or immunoglobulin analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis with immunosubtraction to identify and characterize the heavy and light chains of monoclonal M-proteins.

What does a negative immunofixation blood test mean?

  • Serum or urine immunofixation negative for a monoclonal protein or a polyclonal pattern is considered to be normal. CSF immunofixation that does not reveal oligoclonal bands is also considered normal. A polyclonal immunoglobulin pattern in the serum or urine immunofixation is considered to be nonspecific.

What does high immunoglobulin M mean?

  • If your immunoglobulin levels are too high, it may be a sign of an autoimmune disease, a chronic illness, an infection, or a type of cancer.

What does high immunoglobulin A mean?

  • High IgA can indicate chronic inflammation or an infection. Most labs consider values above 400 mg/dL in adults high. The upper limit varies by age and is lower in children and adolescents. IgA is also elevated in people with Liver damage 

What tube is used for immunofixation?

IMMUNOFIXATION, SERUM
ORDERING INFORMATION:Geisinger Epic Procedure Code: LAB3050 Geisinger Epic ID: 24080
Specimen type:Serum
Preferred collection container:3.5 mL gold-top (serum separator) tube
Alternate Collection Container:6 mL red-top (plain, non-serum separator) tube

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

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Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.