Rapid, sensitive detection of myoglobinemia by improved counterimmunoelectrophoresis in cases of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract A counterimmunoelectrophoresis technique for detection of serum myoglobin (Mb) was improved using non-ionic polymer dextran. Precipitin lines were graded according to their strength, which was ascertained by radioimmunoassay data. By this method, serum Mb in concentrations of 500 ng./ml. before stain and of 200 ng./ml. after stain were detected. Electrophoretic time was 60 minutes. Among 32 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) whose blood samples were collected within 24 hours after disease onset, precipitin lines were detected in 25 cases (78 per cent) before stain and 31 cases (97 per cent) after stain. Considering the early peak concentration time (approximately 10 hours) of serum Mb after AMI onset, diagnosis becomes more rapid and exact with this method, especially in severe cases.