Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a laboratory test that examines specific proteins in the blood called globulins. Blood must first be collected, usually into an airtight vial or syringe. Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique where the blood serum (the fluid portion of the blood after the blood has clotted) is placed on special paper treated with agarose gel and exposed to an electric current to separate the serum protein components into five classifications by size and electrical charge, those being serum albumin, alpha-1 globulins, alpha-2 globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins.