Of the hemoglobin types usually present in an adult, hemoglobin A migrates the fastest, followed by hemoglobin F. Hemoglobin A2 moves only slightly from the point of origin near the cathode.
Abnormal hemoglobins show the following migration patterns:
- Hemoglobin C migrates with hemoglobin A2 near the cathode.
- Hemoglobin S lies between hemoglobin A2 and Hemoglobin F.
- Hemoglobin H and Bart's hemoglobin are unstable and fast-moving, placing them past hemoglobin A and near the anode, with hemoglobin H being the fastest.
Relative migrations of hemoglobin variants on alkaline electrophoresis can be seen below.
