Immunostaining of von Willebrand factor multimers on agarose gels and nitrocellulose filters

Abstract

Human von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimeric analysis is commonly performed by agarose gel electrophoresis, electroblotting, and immunoenzymatic staining; however, high molecular weight (HMW) multimers are poorly transferred on nitrocellulose and should be visualized by direct gel staining with radiolabeled anti-VWF antibody and autoradiography or luminography.