What is the most common support media used for electrophoresis in clinical specimens?

Agarose gel is widely recognized as the most common support medium used for electrophoresis in clinical specimens, primarily due to its favorable properties. Agarose is a polysaccharide that provides a semi-solid matrix, which allows for the effective separation of nucleic acids and proteins based on size. Its relatively low cost, ease of preparation, and ability to resolve large molecules make it a preferable choice in laboratories for routine analyses.

In clinical settings, agarose gels are especially useful for procedures such as DNA electrophoresis in genetic testing, and they can also be employed in the separation of serum proteins in electrophoretic profiling, which is crucial for diagnosing various medical conditions. The gel's characteristics allow for clear visualization of bands under ultraviolet light, facilitating analysis.

Other support media like polyacrylamide gel offer higher resolution, particularly for smaller proteins, but are generally more complex to prepare and handle. Cellulose acetate is another medium used in certain applications, such as protein electrophoresis, but it doesn't provide the same versatility and broader application range as agarose. Meanwhile, silica gel is typically not utilized for electrophoresis in clinical samples, as it is more suited for other techniques like chromatography. Overall, the practicality and effectiveness of agarose gel