Rocket immunoelectrophoresis.

Rocket immunoelectrophoresis (also referred to as electroimmunoassay) is a simple, quick, and reproducible method for determining the concentration of a specific protein in a protein mixture. The method, originally introduced by Laurell (1) involves a comparison of the sample of unknown concentration with a series of dilutions of a known concentration of the protein, and requires a monospecific antiserum against the protein under investigation. The samples to be compared are loaded side-by-side in small circular wells along the edge of an agarose gel that contains the monospecific antibody. These samples (antigen) are then electrophoresed into the agarose gel where interaction between antigen and antibody takes place. In the presence of excess antigen, the antigen#x2013;antibody complex is soluble, but as the antigen moves further into the gel, more antigen combines with antibody until a point of equivalence is reached. At this stage the antigen#x2013;antibody complex is insoluble. The end result is a precipitation 'rocket' spreading out from the loading well.