Hemoglobin electrophoresis is the movement of hemoglobin proteins in an electric field at a fixed pH.
Because the various hemoglobins are comprised of different combinations of globin chains (normal or abnormal), they will demonstrate different degrees of mobility. Typically, when thalassemia or hemoglobinopathy is suspected, alkaline electrophoresis is performed, which may be confirmed with acid electrophoresis.
For alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis, a hemolysate is applied to cellulose acetate, which is electrophoresed in a buffer at pH 8.4-8.6. At this pH, hemoglobin proteins move from cathode to anode. The proteins are visualized by the application of a dye, which also makes them measurable by densitometry.
