Medical abbreviation:
EPS, SPEP
Type:
Blood test
Definition:
An electric current is used to separate out different proteins found in a blood sample. Human blood contains as many as 300 unique proteins which have distinct functions.
When would I need this test?
The blood test is requested when doctors suspect excessive proteins are being created by white cells or the liver. It helps to distinguish different proteins and this may provide a diagnostic clue. Excessive production of particular proteins may indicate chronic infections, autoimmune conditions (the body’s immune system attacking its own cells) and conditions like rare blood cancers.
