Sample type: Serum

Test name: C3 Nephritic Factor

Special precautions & notes: Association with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.Expect low C3 but normal C4. Check C3 & C4 before requesting.

Reference range: Positive or Negative

Container: Serum (Gold top)

Ideal volume (mL): 2 mL

Referred outside NBT for analysis? No

Discipline: Immunology

Section: Immunochemistry/Proteins

Turnaround time: 7 working days

Information for Laboratories referring samples for analysis at NBT:

Serum sample required in our laboratory within 4 hours of venepuncture if stored/transported at ambient temperature. If not possible samples can also be frozen at -80oC within 4 hours of venepuncture and sent to our laboratory frozen.
Repeated freezing and thawing of the serum sample should be avoided.

Method:

Indirect, functional determination of C3NeF activity using patient and control serum. Semi-automated electrophoresis and immunofixation with anti-C3c and C3d anti-sera.
Sarkar E et al. J Immunol Methods. 2014;402(1-2):71-75.

Further information: EQA: There is no formal EQA scheme available. The department takes part in a sample exchange program with other laboratories.