They measure both the involved (clonal) and the uninvolved (non-clonal) immunoglobulin. This gives unique and useful prognostic information about immune suppression of the uninvolved isotype e.g. IgAλ in an IgAκ patient.
The assays generate numerical results for:
- IgGκ, IgGλ and IgGκ/IgGλ ratio
- IgAκ, IgAλ and IgAκ/IgAλ ratio
- IgMκ, IgMλ and IgMκ/IgMλ ratio
Hevylite is useful to:
- Accurately quantify monoclonal proteins at low levels (<10 g/L)
- Identify residual disease in Multiple Myeloma
- Detect Multiple Myeloma relapse earlier than traditional testing
- Provide optimal monitoring alongside Freelite (incl. clonal change: at relapse, a different clone may emerge to the clone seen at the diagnosis)
Test results
The Hevylite assays individually measure IgGκ, IgGλ, IgAκ, IgAλ, IgMκ and IgMλ in g/L.
| Term | Definition | Description | Example in an IgGk MM patient |
| HLC | Heavy and light chain isotypes | ||
| iHLC | Involved HLC | The HLC type produced by the tumour. Measures monoclonal production | IgGκ |
| uHLC | Uninvolved HLC | Measures polyclonal production | IgGλ |
| HLC ratio | e.g. IgAκ/IgAλ | Indicates clonality | IgGκ/IgGλ |
| dHLC | iHLC – uHLC | For a particular immunoglobulin isotype, the difference in concentration between the iHLC and uHLC | IgGκ-IgGλ |
| HLC-pair suppression | Only uHLC is below normal reference interval | The ratio must be abnormal | Suppression of IgGλ |
A Laboratory Overview
Hevylite is a quick, simple and highly sensitive laboratory serum test for measuring intact immunoglobulin monoclonal proteins. It identifies and measures IgGκ, IgGλ, IgAκ, IgAλ, IgMκ and IgMλ individually. These proteins are assessed in pairs, e.g. IgGκ/IgGλ, to produce ratios.
Benefits of Hevylite:
- provides greater sensitivity than electrophoretic methods, e.g. below 10 g/L monoclonal protein
- overcomes technical challenges observed with electrophoresis such as co-migration, non-linearity and dye saturation
- maximizes workflow through automation and reduces “hands-on” time
- provides quantitative results and avoids subjective interpretation of gels
- reduces the number of different tests needed to get a result, especially for IgA monoclonal proteins
Hevylite Assay Menu and Kits
Optilite
| Kit | Product Code | Kit size | Measuring Range | Sample Type |
| Hevylite IgAκ | NK623.OPT | 50 tests | 0.018 – 112g/L | Serum, plasma |
| Hevylite IgAλ | NK624.OPT | 50 tests | 0.016 – 104g/L | Serum, plasma |
| Hevylite IgMκ | NK625.OPT | 50 tests | 0.02 – 150g/L | Serum, plasma |
| Hevylite IgMλ | NK626.OPT | 50 tests | 0.018 – 135g/L | Serum, plasma |
| Hevylite IgGκ | NK621.OPT | 50 tests | 0.115 – 120g/L | Serum, plasma |
| Hevylite IgGλ | NK622.OPT | 50 tests | 0.075 – 105g/L | Serum, plasma |
Clinical laboratory practice
- Using both Freelite and Hevylite tests during monitoring allows light chain and intact immunoglobulin clones to be detected, giving clinicians more and earlier information.
- IMWG MRD Guidelines now include Hevylite




