Free Kappa Light Chains Urine

There are two types of light chains.

Free kappa light chains urine.

A free light chains test measures the amount of lambda and kappa free light chains in the blood. In general the higher the free light chains the more aggressive the disease is. A k l ratio less than 0 7 suggests the presence of monoclonal lambda light chains. Results of urine free light chain testing can be used to monitor disease progression or response to therapy in patients for whom urine electrophoresis is unable to provide reliable bence jones protein quantification.

Normal test results for free light chains are. 3 3 to 19 4 mg l kappa free light chains. Kappa lambda light chains free with ratio urine not offered in quest infectious disease inc. A kappa lambda k l ratio greater than 6 2 suggests the presence of monoclonal kappa light chains.

0 26 to 1 65 ratio of kappa lambda. Therefore the serum free light chain test is a better predictor of outcome than the amount of m protein in the blood. The test measures the levels of specific types of free light chains known as kappa and lambda and also the ratio between the two. There are two types of light chains.

While the molecular weight of both light chains is approximately 22 5 kilodaltons in serum κ free light chain κ flc exists primarily as a monomer and λ free light chain λ flc as a covalently linked dimer with a molecular weight of approximately 45 kilodaltons. If a patient has kappa myeloma their doctor will watch for a rise in the kappa numbers. What are light chains. These unlinked chains are known as free light chains.

This can be measured by the free light chain assay test on a blood specimen. Please provide service area information to confirm test code for the lab that services your account or to find available tests you can order. If the amount of free light chains is higher or lower than normal it can mean you have a disorder of the plasma cells. The results of urine kappa and lambda free light chains must be interpreted in conjunction with urine immunofixation.

5 71 to 26 3 mg l lambda free light chains. A greater than 90 decrease suggests treatment response.