English: Schematic of alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis. Samples are introduced at the origin point and the various types of hemoglobin migrate from an area of negative (-) to positive (+) charge. The speed of migration is based on the molecule's charge.

The legend at the bottom lists the migration patterns of common hemoglobin variants, from slowest to fastest:

Hemoglobin A2/C/E/O

Hemoglobin S/D/G

Hemoglobin F

Hemoglobin A

The legend on the right shows the interpretation of the electrophoresis results. From top to bottom:

Normal adult sample: Hemoglobin A and a faint band of hemoglobin A2 (Hb F levels are too low to visualize)

Normal newborn sample: Predominantly hemoglobin F and hemoglobin A

Sickle cell disease: Hemoglobin S; no hemoglobin A present

Sickle cell trait: Hemoglobin A and hemoglobin S

Hemoglobin SC disease: Hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C

AFSC control: A quality control sample containing hemoglobins A, F, S, and C.

References:

• McPherson, RA; Pincus, MR (2017). Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods (23 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-323-41315-2. p. 582, Figure 32-19.
• Kottke-Marchant, K; Davis, B (2012). Laboratory Hematology Practice (1 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4443-9857-1. p. 572, Figure 44.7
• Baynes, JW (2019). Medical Biochemistry (5 ed.) Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-7299-4. p. 57, fig. 5.9.