What is a Complement Blood Test? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
What is a complement blood test (CH50)?
It measures the amount and the activity of complement proteins. These are part of the complement system. There are nine complement proteins labelled as C1 to C9. They are important for the immune system to fight against the harmful substances entering the body like viruses and bacteria. C3 and C4 are the major complement proteins.
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Why is a complement blood test (CH50) needed?
If you have abnormal C3 or C4 levels, it indicates you don’t have enough complement proteins to work with the immune system to fight against inflammation. There could be an autoimmune disorder or any other health disorder.
What is a complement serum (C3) test?
This test measures the amount of C3 protein present in the blood.
What is complement serum (C3)?
The units of measurement of C3 proteins are mg/dl (milligrams per deciliters) or g/l (grams per litre)
The normal range is 75 mg/dl to 175 mg/dl or 0.75 g/l or 1.75 g/l
What is the role of the C3 protein?
They play a significant role in the immune system as:
- Creating antibodies and modifying them
- Neutralizing viruses
- Recognizing and killing viruses, bacteria and other germs
- Helps in the activation of other parts of the complement system to kill harmful bacteria
Why should I get this test done?
You should get it done if you have the symptoms indicating autoimmune disorders like lupus:
- A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks
- Joint pains and swelling
- Fever
- Headache
- Light sensitivity
- Fatigue
- Mouth ulcers
- Swelling around eyes, in hands and feet
- Hair fall
- Difficult breathing
In case of any underlying disease, it also helps in monitoring the treatment procedure to see if it is going right or not.
What does a high C3 level indicate?
A high level of C3 is seen in cases of infections or injury. It may indicate:
- Heart disorder
- Inflammatory diseases like sarcoidosis
- Thyroid disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Some types of cancers
What does a low C3 level indicate?
It may be hereditary or acquired. A low level of complement C3 can be a sign of:
- Hereditary C3 deficiency
- Autoimmune disorders
- Inflammation of liver
- Hemolytic anaemia
- Malnutrition
- Kidney diseases
- Organ rejection (kidney transplant rejection)
- Septicemia
What is the complement serum (C4) test?
It measures the activity of the C4 protein in relation to other proteins present in the complement system.
What is the normal range of C4 proteins?
The units of measurement of C3 proteins are mg/dl (milligrams per deciliters) or g/l (grams per litre)
The normal range is 16 mg/dl to 48 mg/dl or 0.16 g/l or 0.48 g/l
What does an abnormal C4 level indicate?
The increase or decrease in C4 levels is indicated in the same way as that of C3 proteins:
Low C4 levels:
It could be a sign of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cirrhosis, and kidney diseases.
High C4 levels:
It is generally high after an injury or infection.
