| Abstract: | Abstract The sera of seventy-one women and twenty-six men of various ages were examined by a two dimensional (crossed) immunoelectrophoresis technique which was modified to detect a protein (the Down's Syndrome protein) originally found in the sera of mothers of trisomy 21 children. The sensitivity of the method is reported to be 0.1 to 1.0 mg/L. Modifications included use of a Tris-Tricine buffer, high voltage in the second dimension, and relatively low antibody concentration to allow easy detection of the Down's Syndrome (DS) protein. Of twenty-eight mothers and twelve fathers of trisomy 21 children, eighteen mothers and five fathers were positive, while of forty-three women and fourteen men having unaffected or no children, only seven women and two men were positive for the DS protein. Since the presence of the Down's Syndrome protein may indicate a propensity for giving birth to a trisomy 21 affected child, this crossed immunoelectrophoretic technique may be used as a screening procedure for the DS protein and, therefore, as a tool in genetic counseling. |
