Analysis of inflammatory response in human plasma samples by an automated multicapillary electrophoresis system

A new automated multicapillary zone electrophoresis instrument with a new high-resolution (HR) buffer (Capillarys(TM) with HR buffer) for analysis of human plasma proteins was evaluated. Albumin, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG and IgM were determined nephelometrically in 200 patient plasma samples. The same samples were then analyzed on the Capillarys(TM) system (Sebia, Paris, France). The albumin concentration from the nephelometric determination was used for quantification of the individual peaks in the capillary electrophoresis (CE) electropherogram. There was strong linear correlation between the nephelometric and electrophoretic determination of alpha(1)-antitrypsin (R-2=0.906), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (R-2=0.894) and haptoglobin (R-2=0.913). There was also good correlation between the two determinations of gamma-globulins (R-2=0.883), while the correlation was weaker for fibrinogen (R-2=0.377). The Capillarys(TM) instrument is a reliable system for plasma protein analysis, combining the advantages of full automation, good analytical performance and high throughput. The HR buffer in combination with albumin quantification allows the simultaneous quantification of inflammatory markers in plasma samples without the need for nephelometric determination of these proteins.