Given a cellulose acetate protein electrophoresis result with albumin area 75 units, gamma globulin area 30 units, total area 180 units, and total protein 6.4 g/dL, the gamma globulin content in g/dL is which value?

• A. 1.1 g/dL (11 g/L)
• B. 2.7 g/dL (27 g/L)
• C. 3.8 g/dL (38 g/L)
• D. 4.9 g/dL (49 g/L)

Answer: (A)

In cellulose acetate protein electrophoresis, the area of each band reflects its share of the total protein. The gamma globulin portion is 30 units out of a total area of 180 units, so the gamma fraction is 30/180 = 1/6. Multiply this fraction by the total protein concentration to get the gamma globulin concentration: 6.4 g/dL × 1/6 ≈ 1.07 g/dL, which rounds to 1.1 g/dL. So the gamma globulin content is about 1.1 g/dL (11 g/L).