Hemoglobin electrophoresis is a laboratory technique that separates the different types of hemoglobin in the blood based on their electrical charge and mass. It determines the percentages of normal hemoglobin (HbA, HbA2, HbF) and abnormal hemoglobins (such as HbS in sickle cell anemia, or HbC). It is the primary diagnostic test for detecting inherited hemoglobin disorders (hemoglobinopathies).