Rapid two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis of human serum proteins.

We describe two versions of a two-dimensional immunoelectrophoretic system and illustrate their use for separating and estimating human serum proteins. Each is sensitive, rapid, and simple to perform, and requires no special apparatus and only 0.1-0.6 ml of antiserum. Both procedures appear to be potentially useful in the clinical laboratory. Time required to obtain a stained pattern varies from 4.5 to 7 h, depending on the intended purpose and sensitivity (number of possible precipitin peaks) desired. With the faster method (“rapid screening”) 25 to 35 precipitin peaks are detected. With the slower but more sensitive method 40 to >50 peaks are detected. The sensitivity of either version is a function cit the titer of the polyvalent antiserum to whole human serum. Of the precipitin peaks thus far detected, 35 have been identified.