An improved electrophoretic method for a screening program for haemoglobinopathies

Summary A method for a screening program for haemoglobinopathies in a starch agar gel mixed with saponin is presented. Normal and abnormal blood containing haemoglobins S, C, I, M Boston, D Punjab, beta thalassaemia major and beta thalassaemia minor, were applied, in a tray with the capacity for 100 samples. The electrophoresis was performed in 45 min using 300 V. This method offers special advantages for the examination of a large number of samples, using a small amount of whole blood and without the previous preparation of haemoglobin solution.Acknowledgments. We would like to express our gratitude to Dr C. Daghlian and Dr Lewis J. Greene for their valuable suggestions. We also thank the Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq, for financial support.