Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) of serum proteins has become a well-accepted method for the separation of serum proteins and for the detection of monoclonal proteins in clinical laboratories. As CZE uses ultraviolet detection for direct protein quantification, exogenous ultraviolet-absorbing substances are a novel challenge, not present in conventional gel-based methods in which protein is quantified by dye binding. This minireview gives a survey of interfering substances, including iodinated contrast agents and antibiotics.