Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) is an analytical technique that separates serum protein into six fractions: albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2, and gamma. Interpreting elevation, decrease, or visual change in different fractions can diagnose various disease states and protein abnormalities.

. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and carrying carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation.
. In cord blood, hemoglobin electrophoresis is used to identify and quantify different types of hemoglobin, particularly fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and abnormal variants.
. This test is important for detecting inherited hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, early in life. Early identification allows timely intervention and management of these disorders, improving outcomes for affected newborns.