C4 complement

Sample Type

Serum

Uses

1. Help diagnose the cause of recurrent microbial infections, angioedema, or inflammation.

2. Help diagnose and monitor the activity and treatment of acute or chronic autoimmune diseases such as lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis

3. Monitor immune complex-related diseases.

Precautions

Separate serum from cells within one hour.

Interfering factors

1. Complement levels may be decreased due to increased consumption or rarely, a hereditary deficiency.

2. Grossly hemolyzed; bacterial contamination; lipemic, icteric.

Pre analytical errors

1. Unlabeled sample

2. Error in patient preparation.

Post analytical errors

1. Sent results to incorrect patient.

2. Delayed reporting.

Corrective actions

1. Rejecting any sample without labelling.

2. Preparing the patient before test

3. Sending the report to the correct person.