Electrophoresis Techniques

1. Electrophoresis
Technique
Types

2. Routine
Electrophoresis
Mostly used for the separation of proteins and has
some use in separating nucleic acids. (1)
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3. High Resolution Electrophoresis
(HRE)
This technique is used for detecting monoclonal
immunoglobulins in serum and urine. Proteins with
similar electrophoretic mobilities and those present in
low concentrations and that may be invisible on other
methods can be detected and separated by HRE due to
its superior resolution and sensitivity. (2)
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4. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
(PAGE)
PAGE is used to study individual proteins. It can
separate, identify, and quantify them in certain cells and
environments. (3) It can separate serum proteins into 20
or more fractions than the usual 5 fractions separate by
cellulose or agarose. (5)
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5. Capillary Electrophoresis
This method is used for the separation, quantitation, and
determination of molecular weights of proteins and
peptides. It is also used for the analysis of products from
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for the analysis of
inorganic ions, organic acids, pharmaceuticals, optical
isomers, and drugs of abuse in serum and urine. (5)
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6. Isoelectric focusing
A technique of exquisite resolution and high sensitivity
that enables greater discrimination between the various
immunoglobulin abnormalities encountered in the clinical
laboratory. (6)
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7. Two-dimensional Electrophoresis
Combines two different electrophoresis dimensions to
separate proteins from complex matrices such as serum
or tissue. (5)
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8. Pulse Field Electrophoresis
Used to produce DNA fingerprints for a bacterial isolate.
This technique investigates the bacterial isolates from
sick people, contaminated food, and the places where
food is produce. (4)
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9. References
1. Media Lab (2021). Routine Electrophoresis. Retrieved
from Routine Electrophoresis - LabCE.com,
Laboratory Continuing Education
2. Helena Laboratories Corporation (2021). High
Resolution Protein Electrophoresis. Retrieved from
SPIFE High Resolution Protein Electrophoresis
(helena.com)
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10. References
3. Cleaver Scientific (2020). Polyacrylamide Gel
Electrophoresis. Retrieved from Polyacrylamide Gel
Electrophoresis - Cleaver Scientific
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017).
Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis. Retrieved from
Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) | PulseNet
Methods| PulseNet | CDC
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11. References
5. Bishop, M., Fody, E., & Schoeff, L. (2013). Clinical
Chemistry Principles, Techniques, and Correlations.
7th Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 116-117.
6. Cornell F.N. (2009). Isoelectric focusing, blotting, and
probing methods for detection and identification of
monoclonal proteins. The Clinical biochemist.
Reviews, 30(3), 123-130.
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