Hemoglobin electrophoresis at alkaline pH on agarose gels.

We describe a modified thin agarose-gel system for use in primary hemoglobin screening by electrophoresis. The system makes use of a Tris-EDTA-borate-buffered agarose gel (pH 8.8) and a sodium barbital electrophoresis buffer (pH 8.6). Separation is effected in 20 min at a constant potential of 250 V. Eight samples can be simultaneously separated and the patterns made visible in 47 min. There are fewer operative steps needed in running and staining. Normal and the more common abnormal hemoglobins are separated into easily visualized and differentiated bands, with the separation of HbA and F significantly improved over that attainable by present methods.