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The method commonly used to perform hemoglobin electrophoresis is alkaline starch gel electrophoresis. This technique is particularly effective for separating different types of hemoglobin based on their charge at alkaline pH levels. Hemoglobin molecules carry different charges depending on their structure, and during electrophoresis, they migrate through a gel matrix in response to an electrical current.

In alkaline conditions, variants of hemoglobin such as hemoglobin A, S, and C can be distinctly separated, allowing for identification and quantification. The starch gel acts as a medium that hinders the movement of hemoglobin molecules, providing a way to visualize the differences in migration distances that correlate with the type of hemoglobin present in a sample.

While other methods, such as capillary electrophoresis, also offer effective ways to perform hemoglobin analysis, alkaline starch gel electrophoresis has a long-standing role in clinical laboratories due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliable results for distinguishing abnormal hemoglobin variants.