Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Serum from a plain red top is the only acceptable sample type.
Gel barrier tubes are not acceptable.

Specimen Preparation

Allow blood to clot at room temp or 37°C for 20 to 60 minutes. Centrifuge to thoroughly remove cells and immediately transfer cell-free serum to a fresh tube and freeze the cell-free serum on dry ice or at -70°C.
Preferred volume: 1 mL

Pediatric Collection

Minimum volume: 250 µL serum, frozen

Unacceptable Conditions

Thawed specimen.

Storage Transport Temp

Send frozen serum Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container on dry ice.

Stability

Frozen at -70°C: 1 year

Notes

This is not a direct measurement of antibody quality, but only a qualitative (indirect) measure of its activity in causing C3 conversion.

Methodology

Immunofixation Electrophoresis

Reported

14 Business days

Department

Complement Lab

Synonyms

Complement (C3 Nephritic Factor);2-D Immunoelectrophoresis (C3 Nephritic Factor)

Reference Interval

Normal – Ratio is 0 – 0.26

Equivocal – Ratio is 0.27 – 0.33

Positive – Ratio is  > 0.34

No male or female

CPT Code

86161