The statement 'A dipstick urinalysis does not detect immunoglobulin light chains associated with multiple myeloma' is:

The statement 'A dipstick urinalysis does not detect immunoglobulin light chains associated with multiple myeloma' is:

• A. Cannot be determined
• B. Not applicable
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

The test concept here is that a standard dipstick urinalysis is designed to detect proteins, mainly albumin, using a color reaction that is most sensitive to albumin. Immunoglobulin light chains, which show up in urine in multiple myeloma as Bence Jones proteins, are small molecules and do not reliably trigger the dipstick’s protein indicator. Because of this, light chains can be present in the urine even when the dipstick result is negative or non-specific. In practice, detecting light chains requires more specialized testing, such as urine protein electrophoresis with immunofixation or the serum-free light chain assay. Therefore, the statement that a dipstick urinalysis does not detect immunoglobulin light chains is correct.

The test concept here is that a standard dipstick urinalysis is designed to detect proteins, mainly albumin, using a color reaction that is most sensitive to albumin. Immunoglobulin light chains, which show up in urine in multiple myeloma as Bence Jones proteins, are small molecules and do not reliably trigger the dipstick’s protein indicator. Because of this, light chains can be present in the urine even when the dipstick result is negative or non-specific.

In practice, detecting light chains requires more specialized testing, such as urine protein electrophoresis with immunofixation or the serum-free light chain assay. Therefore, the statement that a dipstick urinalysis does not detect immunoglobulin light chains is correct.