Isoelectric Focusing of Globin Chains for Antenatal Diagnosis of β°-Thalassemia

Abstract

A recently developed isoelectric focusing technique for human globin chain separation has been applied to the antenatal diagnosis of β°-thalassemia in Sardinia. Results obtained with this method show a complete concordance with those obtained by the currently-in-use chromatographic separation of globin chains by carboxymethyl-cellulose. The ease with which several samples (up to 20) can be simultaneously processed and analyzed by a single operator and the very simple equipment required make this new method ideal for the antenatal diagnosis of β°-thalassemia and could encourage a more widespread use of prenatal diagnosis of thalassemias.