Typing of human red cell and serum mixtures in three electrophoretic systems.

The isoenzymes erythrocyte acid phosphatase and phosphoglucomutase were typed in mixed red cell samples which had been derived from two individuals; the protein group specific component was typed in mixed serum samples. Typing was performed by isoelectric focusing on ultrathin polyacrylamide gels. Depending upon the mixture, from 2 to 20% (but typically 5-10%) by volume of a second blood or serum needed to be present in a mixture before it could be detected. In the majority of cases when there was significant mixing, samples were readily identified as a mixture when the results consisted of unusual band patterns or unusual band intensities. There would be a few instances when blood or serum could not be identified as a mixture when masking effects occurred or when the mixture produced a combined, apparently normal, pattern.