Immunonephelometric quantification of specific urinary proteins versus a simple electrophoretic method for characterizing proteinuria

OBJECTIVES: The quantification of urinary proteins presenting different molecular sizes is useful in characterizing a proteinuria. We assessed the performance of an electrophoretic system, the Hydragel Urine Profile, which allows firstly the identification of proteinuria and secondly a qualitative detection of monoclonal free light chains (FLC). DESIGN AND METHODS: Initially, the proteinuria was characterized on 127 pathological urines by quantifying albumin, a1microglobulin, immunoglobulins G by immunonephelometric quantification technique and the results were compared with the protein pattern obtained by the electrophoretic method. Secondly, we assessed the sensitivity and specificity of this electrophoretic test for the detection and characterization of Bence Jones proteins. FLC were analyzed quantitatively by an immunonephelometric assay and qualitatively by the electrophoretic test in 150 urines. RESULTS: The agreement between the two methods was good with a percentage of homology for characterizing the proteinuria of 89%. For detecting a monoclonal FLC, the electrophoretic method demonstrated a lesser sensitivity but a higher specificity compared to the immunoassay. CONCLUSION: The Urine Profile kit is a reliable assay that can be used as a screening test to differentiate the type of proteinuria.