Clinical Chemistry, Vol 20, 973-991, Copyright © 1974 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Transphoresis and Isotachophoresis—Automatable Fast Analysis of Electrolytes, Proteins, and Cells, with Suppression of Gravitational Effects

¹ Engineering Experiment Station, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. 85721; VA Hospital, Tucson, Ariz.; and Transphoresis Co., London, U.K.

Transphoresis and isotachophoresis are defined as related fast high-resolution displacement electrophoretic methods, in which there are sharply separated compartments of uniform concentration, without gaussian zones. Electrical detection allows simultaneous analog or digital expression of quantity and identity from a single staircase signal. Use of free solution or dilute colloid in a capillary allows mechanical sample introduction, flushing, and reloading. Microliters of sample and inexpensive stock solutions are used and subnanomole quantities may be analyzed in minutes or seconds. All ions of one sign are analyzed simultaneously without staining, chemical reaction, or elution. The method is suitable for body fluids, and possibly for use with serum proteins. Temperature effects are less severe than in zone methods; but for proteins and cells gravitational distortions must be circumvented by rotation, stirring density gradients, or isopycnic solvents. Results of small ion, protein, and cell separations are given, and a separation in zero-gravity in Skylab is referred to.

Submitted on April 18, 1974
Accepted on June 6, 1974