Creatine kinase, although highly variable, is an excellent indicator of
striated muscle damage in short-term duration studies where blood samples are collected
at frequent intervals during the study. Similarly, the use of serum protein electrophoresis
can be valuable if the clinical pathologist is trying to demonstrate an acute-phase
response when an inflammation is clinically observed or suspected. Under these
circumstances blood samples are usually taken at frequent intervals at times expected to
coincide with the peak of the inflammatory response.