Name |
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
|
Alternative name/Profile |
IgM, GAM, ELEC, Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP), Multiple Myeloma (MM), Bence Jones Protein (BJP), Free light chains, FKFL, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, FKC, FLC, Immunoglobulins, Paraprotein, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS) |
Department |
Immunology |
Investigation |
Turbidimetry (Roche cobas 6000) |
Specimen type |
Clotted blood
|
Sample type |
Serum |
Sample container & volume |
5ml Red. |
Frequency of analysis |
Daily Monday to Friday |
Turnaround time |
6 days
|
Availability |
|
Notes |
Useful for:
- Detecting and monitoring monoclonal gammopathies
- Detecting and monitoring immunodeficienies
Clinical Information:
- Immunoglobulin M (IgM) represents about 5% of normal serum immunoglobulin.
- Levels of IgM may be raised due to a polyclonal production of antibody in reponce to infection, hepatic disease or a connective tissue disease. Elevated levels of IgM can also be due to a monoclonal production of antibody. Monoclonal production of IgM antibody is a characteristic of Multiple Myeloma or a Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance (MGUS) and can cause macrogloulinaemia.
- Decreased levels of IgM are found in patients with both primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.
Please note:
- As electrophoresis is required to distinguish monoclonal from polyclonal IgM production, all samples for IgM levels also have electrophoresis performed.
- As a monoclonal production of another immunoglobulin may cause a secondary immunodeficiency of IgM, all requests for IgM levels also have IgG and IgA levels measured.
- IgM levels should not be used to monitor a monoclonal protein as there may be background polyclonal IgM. Therefore electrophoreseis is used as a tool to monitor monoclonal proteins.
- Where External Institiutions cannot guarantee immediate delivery, samples must be centrifuged, separated and stored at 4oC. Samples can then be transported, as soon as possible, to St. James's Hospital for processing.
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Related links |
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Reference range |
| Age |
IgG (g/L) |
IgA (g/L) |
IgM (g/L) |
| 0-2 Weeks |
5-17 |
0.01-0.08 |
0.05-0.22 |
| 2-6 Weeks |
3.9-13 |
0.02-0.15 |
0.08-0.4 |
| 6-12 Weeks |
2.1-7.7 |
0.05-0.40 |
0.15-0.7 |
| 3-6 Months |
2.4-8.8 |
0.10-0.5 |
0.2-1 |
| 6-9 Months |
3-9 |
0.15-0.7 |
0.4-1.6 |
| 9-12 Months |
3-10.9 |
0.2-0.7 |
0.6-2.1 |
| 1-2 Years |
3.1-13.8 |
0.3-1.2 |
0.5-2.2 |
| 2-3 Years |
3.7-15.8 |
0.3-1.3 |
0.5-2.2 |
| 3-6 Years |
4.9-16.1 |
0.4-2 |
0.5-2 |
| 6-9 Years |
5.4-16.1 |
0.5-2.4 |
0.5-1.8 |
| 9-12 Years |
5.4-16.1 |
0.7-2.5 |
0.5-1.8 |
| 12-15 Years |
5.4-16.1 |
0.8-2.8 |
0.5-1.9 |
| Adult |
6.26-14.96 |
0.62-2.9 |
0.47-1.82 |
Adult reference ranges validated in-house 2009.
Age-Related Reference Ranges sourced from the Protein Reference Unit, Sheffield and last updated 2007.
|
SJH Patients Only |
No |
Last updated |
Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:43:45 BST |
