Light-chain ratios of immunoglobulins G, A, and M determined by enzyme immunoassay

We describe an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of light-chain ratios for IgG, IgA, and IgM in serum. A commercial serum with known overall kappa and lambda concentrations was used as standard. To capture the respective immunoglobulins, we used antibodies to gamma, lambda and mu chains coated onto microtiter plates. Peroxidase-conjugated anti-kappa and anti-lambda chain antisera were reacted with light chains on the captured immunoglobulins, and the amount of enzyme bound was monitored with o-phenylenediamine and urea-hydrogen peroxide as substrates. Calculation of absorbance ratios allowed determination of kappa and lambda chain concentrations of individual immunoglobulins in the standard and samples. Within-run and between-run CVs (n = 25) ranged from 5.9% to 13.0% for "high," "normal," and "low" kappa/lambda ratios for IgG, IgA, and IgM. The thoroughness of light-chain detection, expressed as, e.g., (IgA kappa + IgA lambda)/(total IgA), for 150 sera was 91-110%. The detection limit was 1 microgram/L. Reference intervals (mean +/- SD) for kappa/lambda ratios in sera from 100 apparently healthy adults were 2.34 +/- 0.80 for IgG, 1.59 +/- 0.40 for IgA, and 1.86 +/- 0.76 for IgM.