What is the purpose of hemoglobin electrophoresis?
Hemoglobin electrophoresis measures hemoglobin levels and looks for abnormal types of hemoglobin. It’s most often used to help diagnose anemia, sickle cell disease, and other hemoglobin disorders.
What is Haemoglobin electrophoresis test?
A hemoglobin electrophoresis test is a blood test done to check the different types of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
How do you perform hemoglobin electrophoresis?
Hemoglobin electrophoresis is done by placing a small amount of blood on special paper or a special gel and exposing it to an electrical current. Different globins have different electrical charges and can be differentiated from one another based on their behaviors when exposed to an electrical current.
What are the types of Hb electrophoresis?
The most common ones are HbA, HbA2, HbE, HbF, HbS, HbC, HbH, and HbM. Healthy adults only have significant levels of only HbA and HbA2. Some people may also have small amounts of HbF. This is the main type of hemoglobin in an unborn baby’s body.
What is the importance of hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells. The main objective of hemoglobin in mammals is to transport oxygen to the organs and tissues in the body. Hemoglobin also serves to transmit carbon dioxide from the organs and tissues to the lungs. Due to the importance of its function, it is very important that hemoglobin levels remain stable.
Is hemoglobin example of proteins?
Hemoglobin is an example of the other major type of proteins: globular proteins. Globular proteins serve a larger variety of functions than the fibrous proteins. For example, the globular proteins include such useful proteins as enzymes, antibodies, and transport proteins.
What is an electrophoresis test?
Definition Hemoglobin electrophoresis (also called Hgb electrophoresis), is a test that measures the different types of hemoglobin in the blood. The method used is called electrophoresis, a process that causes movement of particles in an electric field, resulting in formation of “bands” that separate toward one end or the other in the field.
What is albumin electrophoresis?
Albumin — A blood protein that is made in the liver and helps to regulate water movement in the body. Electrophoresis — A technique for separating various blood fractions by running an electric current through a gel containing a blood sample.
