RESUMO
Objective To evaluate immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and to compare it with conventional manual heat test method for detection of Bence Jones (BJ) protein in nonconcentrated urine. Methods We performed IFE and heat test for urinary protein analysis in 116 urine samples and evaluated a new immunofixation electrophoresis system by urinary protein analysis in 20 patients with multiple myeloma. Results 20 patients with multiple myeloma were detected to have BJ proteins (8 ? and 12?) in urine by IFE, whereas no urine BJ proteins by heat test. Conclusion The heat test for BJ proteins should be replaced by IFE because of its insensitivity and unspecificity. The IFE method is higherly sensitive and specific for screening and identification of BJ proteins in urine.