Isoelectric focusing of globin chains for antenatal diagnosis of beta 0-thalassemia

A recently developed isoelectric focusing technique for human globin chain separation has been applied to the antenatal diagnosis of beta 0-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 beta 0-thalassemia and could encourage a more widespread use of prenatal diagnosis of thalassemias