Performance comparison of the Corning thin-film agarose and the Hyland thick-film agar methods for immunoelectrophoresis.

Many clinical laboratories do immunoelectrophoresis for qualitative assessment of proteins in biological fluids. Commercial kits are available that supply some or all of the necessary components, but the nature of these components varies. Seeking a reliable method for most easily preserving the original immunoelectrophoresis pattern as a permanent record, we compared a thick-film agar method to a thin-film agarose method in immunoelectrophoresis of a total of 70 serum and urine samples. For each sample, either method resulted in the same interpretation. The thin-film agarose method not only yields a stained, permanent record in about the same time that the thick film agar is ready for interpretation but not preservation, but also requires less antiserum, a smaller sample, and may not require purchase of additional hardware.