Laboratory: Clinical Immunology
Test Name:
COMPLEMENT C3 - (S)
Test Code: C3
Clinical Information:
Alternate Name(s): C3, C3 Complement Serum, C3 Serum, Third Component of Complement

Useful for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and for investigating an undetectable total complement (CH50) level.

Values should be used in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings. 
Collection Devices:
Specimen Required:
Serum: 1.0 mL
Pediatric Serum: 0.5 mL

Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Referral:
Serum: 1.0 mL
Pediatric Serum: 0.5 mL

Separate serum & ship refrigerated, or frozen if greater than 3 days from time of collection.

Testing Laboratory (MB): Health Sciences Centre Immunology Laboratory
Requisition:
Reference Values:
         Age (yrs)           g/L   
0 - 2 0.986 - 2.079
3 - 4 0.773 - 1.765
5 - 9 0.875 - 1.764
10 - 14 0.974 - 1.959
15 - 18 0.681 - 2.224
Adult 19+ 0.811 - 1.570

Pediatric reference values adopted from Garcia-Prat M, Vila-Pijoan G, Martos Gutierrez S, et al. Age-specific pediatric reference ranges for immunoglobulins and complement proteins on the Optilite™ automated turbidimetric analyzer. J Clin Lab Anal. 2018;32:e22420. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcla.22420.
 
Adult reference values adopted from Binding Site, Optilite C3c Kit, INS023.OPT, ver 13th August 2020.

Method of Analysis: Turbidimetry – Binding Site Optilite
Availability:
Weekdays
See Also:
More Information:
Reportable Range: 0.025 – 6.000 g/L