Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate charged particles like proteins and antibodies through a gel or liquid using an electric field. The document describes how electrophoresis works to separate antigen mixtures by electric charge. Antiserum is then added to wells cut into an agarose gel, allowing antibodies and antigens to diffuse towards each other. Where they meet in the proper proportions, lines of precipitation will form, indicating the presence of antigen-antibody complexes. Immunoelectrophoresis specifically uses this technique to detect the presence of antibodies and determine levels of immunoglobulins in serum to diagnose immunodeficiency diseases or identify overproduction of certain proteins.

1. BY

2. ELECTROPHORESIS
Electrophoresis may be
defined as the migration of
the charged particle
through a solution under
the influence of an external
electrical field.

4. A 2% agarose
gel is prepared
with alternating
wells.
Troughs are then
cut in to the agar
gel parallel to the
direction of the
electric field.
The antigen
mixture is first
electrophoresed
to separate its
components by
electric charge.
Antiserum
is added to
the troughs.Antibody and antigen then
diffuse towards each other.
Lines of precipitation
will be produced
where they meet in
appropriate
proportions

6. The precipitin line indicates the presence of antigen
antibody complex while the absence of precipitin line
indicates the absence of antigen antibody complex.
Mobility of the molecule is dependent on a number of
factors:
-Size of molecules to be separated.
-concentration of agarose gel.
-Voltage applied.
-The buffer used for electrophoresis.

7.  It is used to detect the presence
of antibodies. Used mainly to
determine the blood levels of
three major immunoglobulins,
immunoglobulin M (IgM),
immunoglobulin G (IgG), and
immunoglobulin A (IgA).
 Immunoelectrophoresis is used
in clinical laboratories to detect
the presence or absence of
proteins in the serum.
 This technique is useful in
determining whether a
patient produces
abnormally low amounts
of one or more isotypes of
Ig , characteristic of
certain immunodeficiency
diseases.
 It can also show whether a
patient overproduces some
serum protein, such as
albumin, immunoglobulin, or
transferrin.