Screening and Monitoring of Monoclonal Gammopathies [Test in Focus]

Mayo Clinic has been on the forefront of patient-centered and value-based laboratory testing with a comprehensive offering of test profiles and an algorithmic approach to multiple myeloma testing. We have continued this commitment to patient care with the recent updates to our protein electrophoresis and monoclonal gammopathy test offerings as new mass spectrometry approaches have been developed to identify monoclonal proteins using high-resolution molecular mass measurements that achieve superior sensitivity compared to traditional methods.

David Murray, M.D., Ph.D., provides an overview of the updated monoclonal gammopathy screening and monitoring tests for multiple myeloma. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this approach improves upon previous methods, and what clinical action can be taken from the results of these tests.

 

Testing

When to Order

DMOGA

  • Screening and diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathies including analysis of free light chains.
  • Assessing the risk of progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to multiple myeloma.

TMOGA

  • Monitoring patients with monoclonal gammopathies.
    *This test is not recommended to screen or establish a first-time diagnosis for a monoclonal gammopathy.

 

Specimen Information

DMOGA

  • Specimen Type: Serum
  • Patient Preparation: Fasting (12 hour) preferred but not required
  • Preferred: Serum gel
  • Acceptable: Red top
  • Specimen Volume: 2 mL

TMOGA

  • Specimen Type: Serum
  • Patient Preparation: Fasting (12 hour) preferred but not required
  • Preferred: Serum gel
  • Acceptable: Red top
  • Specimen Volume: 1 mL

 

Performance Information

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed

  • DMOGA—Monday through Saturday; 2 p.m.
  • TMOGA—Monday through Saturday; Continuously until 2 p.m.

Analytic Time

  • DMOGA—Same day/1 day
  • TMOGA—Same day/1 day
Alyssa Frank (@alyssafrank)

Alyssa Frank

Alyssa Frank is a Marketing Segment Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She leads marketing strategies for product management and specialty testing. Alyssa has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2015.