Urine protein electrophoresis test
Urine protein electrophoresis; UPEP; Multiple myeloma - UPEP; Waldenström macroglobulinemia - UPEP; Amyloidosis - UPEPThe urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) test is used to measure how much of certain proteins are in the urine.
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How the Test is Performed
A clean-catch urine sample is needed. The clean-catch method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagina from getting into a urine sample. To collect your urine, your health care provider may give you a special clean-catch kit that contains a cleansing solution and sterile wipes. Follow the instructions exactly.
After you provide a urine sample, it is sent to the lab. There, a lab specialist will place the urine sample on special paper and apply an electric current. The proteins move and form visible bands. These reveal the general amounts of each protein.
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How to Prepare for the Test
Your provider may tell you to stop taking certain medicines that could interfere with the test. Medicines that can affect test results include:
- Chlorpromazine
- Corticosteroids
- Isoniazid
- Neomycin
- Phenacemide
- Salicylates
- Sulfonamides
- Tolbutamide
Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider.
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How the Test will Feel
This test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.
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Why the Test is Performed
Normally there is no protein, or only a small amount of protein in the urine. An abnormally high amount of protein in the urine can be a sign of many different disorders.
UPEP may be recommended to help determine the cause of protein in the urine. Or it may be done as a screening test to measure the various amounts of different types of proteins in urine. UPEP detects 2 types of protein: albumin and globulins.
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Normal Results
No significant amount of globulins are found in the urine. Urine albumin is less than 5 mg/dL.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different specimens. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.
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What Abnormal Results Mean
If the urine sample has a significant amount of globulins or higher than normal level of albumin, it may mean any of the following:
- Acute inflammation
- Abnormal protein buildup in tissues and organs (amyloidosis)
- Decreased kidney function
- Kidney disease due to diabetes (diabetic nephropathy)
- Kidney failure
- A type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma
- Group of symptoms that include protein in the urine, low protein level in the blood, swelling (nephrotic syndrome)
- Acute urinary tract infection
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Risks
There are no risks with this test.
References
Gertz MA, Dispenzieri A. Amyloidosis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 174.
McPherson RA. Specific proteins. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 20.
Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A. Multiple myeloma and related disorders. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 101.