Bloodstain characterization in the EAP, Hp, Hb, AK and Glo I typing systems using minigels and the PhastSystem

Application of minigels and the PhastSystem to obtain phenotyping results from bloodstains in the EAP, Hp, AK, and Glo I typing systems was investigated. Nonequilibrium isoelectric focusing with 4-6.5 PhastGel produced readily interpretable phenotypes in the EAP typing system. Both 4-6.5 and 5-8 PhastGel produced AK typing system phenotypes using nonequilibrium isoelectric focusing conditions. The 8-25% PAG PhastGel developed by two staining techniques allowed discrimination of phenotypes for the Hp typing system. Phenotypes from the Glo I typing system were also obtained with this gel type. Variant haemoglobins could be detected on pH 5-8 PhastGel using isoelectric focusing conditions. Much potential for standardized, rapid phenotyping of bloodstains was found to exist utilizing the PhastSystem.