Protein electrophoresis on cellulose acetate shows that with increasing hemolysis of ante- and postmortem blood an extragradient in the alpha2-globulin field is created, which influences the relative ratio in the electropherogram. Strong hemolysis causes a fusion of the alpha2- and beta-globulin chains. In order to make a diagnostic interpretation of postmortem blood by means of electrophoresis, it is therefore essential to take into account the degree of hemolysis. Changes in the electrophoretic pattern due to hemolysis correlate best with the period of storage. With regard to timing for forensic purposes, the value is, however, limited.