Diagnosis of Intravascular Haemolysis Using Starch Gel Electrophoresis

Starch gel electrophoresis was used to screen for intravascular haemolysis in 15 patients with clinical disorders known to be characterized by intravascular haemolysis. Decreased serum haptoglobins, increased free plasma haemoglobin and the presence of methaemalbumin was documented in all 15 patients. It is suggested that starch gel electrophoresis and staining with haem specific stain is a simple and reliable method for confirming intravascular haemolysis.