Rapid Citrate-agar Electrophoresis in Routine Screening for Hemoglobinopathies Using a Simple Hemolysate

Abstract

A system for rapid hemoglobin electrophoresis on both cellulose acetate and citrate-agar combined with a simple solubility test for sickling variants is described. By use of a saponin hemolysate of once-washed erythrocytes, all three tests can be performed at one time so that an accurate result of the hemoglobin phenotype can be provided expeditiously. A technic for rapid hemoglobin electrophoresis on citrate-agar, using standard equipment, is described in detail.