The estimation of serum proteins by electrophoresis on filter paper

Abstract

A method is descr. for quantitative electrophoresis of proteins on filter paper, modified from that of Turba and Enenkel. A number of variables inherent in the method have been critically examined, including staining and washing of the papers; reproducibility of staining and opt concn. of protein solutions; type of paper; "tailing" of proteins on the paper during migration; dye-binding capacity of different protein fractions. By recovery expts. and duplicate detns., the quantitative accuracy of the method is found to be 6% of the total protein present The comparative merits in the analysis of human sera of the paper method and the "classical" Tiselius method are discussed. Apart from the obvious advantages of simplicity and rapidity, electrophoresis on filter paper may be quantitatively more accurate in analysis of pathological sera containing high proportions of lipid or carbohydrate.