A new fluorescent detection system for identifying variant hemoglobins after gel electrophoresis using immunobinding with monoclonal antibodies.

This paper describes a low-resolution system for identifying variant hemoglobins with great sensitivity and specificity. After electrophoresis of the hemoglobin sample in a gel, fixation is used to entrap the hemoglobin. The gel is dried, incubated with a monoclonal antibody against the desired hemoglobin, then incubated with a second antibody against the first antibody which is conjugated with the enzyme beta-d-galactosidase. An enzyme overlay membrane containing a fluorogenic substrate is then placed on the gel surface, incubated, and removed, yielding an immunofluorescent print. The entire procedure takes only two hours, and by virtue of fluorescent detection gives sharper band resolution and greater sensitivity than conventional dye methods. The system clearly distinguishes SS sickle-cell hemoglobin from heterozygous and "S-like" hemoglobins. The technique therefore holds promise as a powerful probe for allelic variants.