A Patient Is Assessed for B-Cell Clonality by Examining the Immunoglobulin

question 8

Multiple Choice

A patient is assessed for B-cell clonality by examining the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements using PCR with primers complementary to the variable and joining regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. When the products are resolved by gel electrophoresis, the patient lane has a smear and does not have a sharp band. Controls were all acceptable. This result is interpreted as which of the following?

• A) The patient does not have a detectable B-cell clone.
• B) The patient has a B-cell clone.
• C) The patient lacks B cells.
• D) The methodology described is not appropriate for this analysis.

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