[A new micromethod in medicine: capillary electrophoresis]

This is an original contribution on the first CZE in Austrian public and university hospitals. We are describing now the first results obtained with a new micro-method, namely CZE. Proteins are separated in microliter amounts by using 10,000 V and analyzed in a laser beam. 50 counts can be worked out per hour and immunoelectrophoresis replaced by subtraction CE. Dysproteinemias, double albuminemias, modifications of the haptoglobins, alpha-2 macroglobulin, transferin, complement system and the immunoglobulins can easily be detected and monoclonality revealed. No support except the capillary with buffer is necessary, no staining procedure required. The new system is rapid, reliable, cheap and reproducible, and allows us to replace more extensive forms of protein diagnosis such as the traditional electrophoresis and the immunoelectrophoresis or the immunoblotting.