Immunoelectrophoresis is primarily used to identify which of the following?

Immunoelectrophoresis is a laboratory technique that combines electrophoresis and immunodiffusion to separate and identify various proteins in a sample, primarily focusing on immunoglobulins. This method is particularly effective in identifying specific proteins, such as monoclonal proteins or abnormal immunoglobulin types.

Bence-Jones proteins are light-chain immunoglobulins typically found in the urine of patients with multiple myeloma. They are a critical diagnostic marker for this type of cancer, and immunoelectrophoresis can effectively detect and characterize them. By using this method, one can visualize and identify the presence of these proteins amid a mixture, making it a powerful tool for diagnosing conditions associated with abnormal protein production.

In contrast, while antinuclear antibodies are significant in diagnosing autoimmune disorders, their detection is usually accomplished with techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or indirect immunofluorescence, rather than immunoelectrophoresis. HLA typing typically involves molecular techniques (e.g., PCR) focused on human leukocyte antigen genes rather than protein separation methods. Immunoglobulin G levels can be measured through serum protein electrophoresis, but that process does not provide the specific identification of the