This test measures the amount of C3 proteins in your blood.

These proteins are part of

your complement system, which plays an important role in your immune system. Its job is to help kill
disease-causing bacteria and viruses. It also responds to such invaders with inflammation that protects
your body from disease.
Complement component C3 is the most important and abundant protein in the complement system. It is
placed on microbes to destroy them. By measuring complement C3 levels, especially in how they
compare with other parts of the complement system, your healthcare provider can diagnose and monitor
treatment of certain diseases. One of the diseases that commonly involves abnormal C3 is systemic
lupus erythematosus, or lupus, an autoimmune disorder.

The normal range for a complement C3 blood test is 80 to 160 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 0.8 to
1.6 grams per liter (g/L).

What are the other parts of the innate immune system?

It includes:

 The phagocytic system (white blood cells, including neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages),
whose function is to ingest and digest invading microorganisms
 Inflammatory mediators produced by various cells, including basophils, mast cells, and eosinophils
 Natural killer (NK), B and T cells that are specialized lymphocytes that kill some tumors cells,
microorganisms, and cells that have been infected by viruses
 Acute phase reactants and cytokines, which are a group of soluble proteins that can cause
changes in the growth of many cells, including the white blood cells that produce them

Complement C3 and C4
Alternative
name:

Measurements of serum complement components C3 and C4 are

useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of immune complex
disease e.g. SLE and some blood associated infectious diseases.
Complement concentrations are acute phase proteins and may be
normal, despite complement consumption, in some inflammatory
and infective disorders.C3 and C4 are measured at the same time
since this gives an indication of the complement pathway
Description:
(classical or alternative) which is being activated and thus the
cause of this activation. C3 alone is often decreased in infectious
disease (septicaemia, endocarditis), C3 and C4 are often both
decreased in immune complex disease, C4 alone is
characteristically decreased in angioedema, immune complex
diseases particularly vasculitis and in cryoglobulinaemia and cold
agglutinin disease.
 Measurement of serum complement is useful in the monitoring of
specific immune complex diseases e.g SLE and infectious
diseases post streptococcal disease, subacute bacterial
endocarditis. Consumption of one or both components may also
be useful prognostically e.g nephritis in lupus.

Though genetic deficiencies of C3 are exceedingly rare,

deficiencies in other components which are more common
(though still very rare) can result in low C3. Genetic deficiencies
in C4 are rarely detected. C1 inhibitor deficiencies are often
detected by investigation of unexpected low C4 levels.

Investigation of renal/joint/connective tissue disorders and their

Indication: symptoms -glomerulonephritis, vasculitis. Investigation of
immunodeficency associated with recurrent infections.
The normal adult range of C4 is 20-50mg/dl. Values up to twice
this upper limit are found in acute phase. Values <1mg/dl can be
found in active immune complex disease, cryoglobulinaemia or
C1-inhibitor deficiency. Low levels of C4 strongly suggest
immune complex disease. They are found most commonly in
cases of active SLE, rheumatoid vasculitis (but not uncomplicated
rheumatoid arthritis where C4 levels are usually normal).Very low
levels are found in association with normal C3 levels in acquired
or hereditary C1-inhibitor deficiency (vide infra).
In some long standing SLE patients C4 levels remain low. This
does not necessarily denote active disease but more likely genetic
C4 deficiency and/or lack of synthesis. However a sudden fall in
levels in any individual does usually indicate exacerbation of
disease activity. Serial determinations are always a better guide to
disease activity.
Interpretation:
The normal adult range for C3 is 90-180mg/dl. Values up to twice
this upper limit are found in acute phase. Values <1mg/dl can be
found in active immune complex disease, septicaemia,
bacteraemia, post streptococcal glomerulonephritis or diseases
associated with nephritic factor. Low levels of C3 associated with
low levels of C4 demonstrate classical pathway activation and
strongly suggest immune complex disease. They are found most
commonly in cases of active SLE. Low levels of C3 associated
with normal levels of C4 demonstrate alternative pathway
activation suggestive of infectious disease or nephritic factor
activity.

Although in some long standing SLE patients C3 levels remain

low, which does not necessarily denote active disease, a sudden
 fall in levels does usually indicate exacerbation of disease activity
and a risk of renal damage.

Sample: Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Assay details: Nephelometry
Increased levels of lipids (lipaemia), haemoglobin (haemiolysis),
Restrictions: or the presence of icterus in the assay sample may affect the assay
result.
Reference C3: 0.75 – 1.65g/L
range: C4: 0.20 – 0.65g/L
Assay range C3: range 0-4.00g/L
notes: C4: 0-3.00g/L
Turnaround 1 – 2 days
time:
Analysing Immunology The James Cook University Hospital
laboratory: