Screening for multiple myeloma using routine laboratory test results.

Characteristics of myeloma protein can be best detected through serum electrophoresis, and are also detected as abnormal results of flocculation tests or hyperglobulinemia by routine laboratory work. The authors identified 38 cases of multiple myeloma in 5 years, actively making use of the available informations in the laboratory. The number screened was 7 times as many as the incidence previously observed, and most of them were screened in subclinical conditions. A formula to discriminate multiple myeloma from other diseases was obtained referring to the thymol turbidity test (TTT) and zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZTT) results through analytical processing the data from the first examination of the 38 patients. The most efficient and practical screening method for multiple myeloma was then developed by combining the formula by which suspicious serum specimens in routine tests are screened, with electrophoresis which confirms the disease.