Immunoelectrophoresis combines AGAR electrophoresis and two-way AGAR diffusion with the antigen-antibody reaction to separate and characterize proteins. When an electric field is applied to an agarose gel slide, a mixture of antigens present in the wells is separated into individual antigens based on size and charge. Antisera in the groove migrate towards antigens and react with them, forming separate precipitation arcs.
Immunoelectrophoresis can continue to be classified as one-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, two-dimensional quantitative immunoelectrophoresis, rocket-immunoelectrophoresis, and fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis.
Fig.1 Illustration of immunoelectrophoresis
-
Preparation
Prepare the agarose gel glass slide. Dilute antigens and antibodies. -
Sample Application
Add the antigen solution to the small well in the agarose gel slide. -
Electrophoresis
Switch on the electrophoresis apparatus and set the voltage and current. Perform electrophoresis for a period of time. -
Antigen-antibody reaction
Dug a horizontal groove in the agarose gel slide and add the antisera solution to it to make antigens and antibodies spread and react. -
Determination
Stain, decolorize, and dry the gel slide. Separated precipitation arcs are formed where the ratio of antigen to antibody is optimal. Analyze the composition of the sample according to the number, location, and shape of precipitation arcs, referring to the electrophoretic diagram formed by known antigens and antibodies.
- High specificity of antigen-antibody reaction
- High sensitivity and great resolution
- Less time consumption
- Lower sample volume required
- Protein identification in immunology
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis of proteins in serum
- Identification of single antigen in antigen's mixture
- Monitoring purity of antigen-antibody and antigen
- Diagnosis of multiple myeloma, hypogammaglobulinemia, polyclonal and monoclonal gammopathies, parvovirus infection, encephalitis, meningococcal meningitis, Haemophilus influenzae infection, etc.
Electrophoresis Systems
Electrophoresis Accessories
Micro Sample Syringes
Pipettes
Staining Appliances
Gel Drying Equipment
STEMart provides you with a variety of electrophoresis equipment or consumables to meet your various R&D and application needs. If you have any questions or requirements for immunoelectrophoresis, please feel free to contact us.