title: Microassay for colorimetric estimation of complement activity in guinea pig, human and mouse serum.
abstract: A sensitive colorimetric microassay for determining haemolytic complement activity was devised. It is carried out in U-welled microtitre dishes covered with plastic tape, which are incubated in a waterbath and subsequently centrifuged. The supernatant is transferred to flat-bottomed microtitre dishes and haemolysis is estimated by automatic measuring of the absorption using an interference filter of 405 nm in a Titertek Multiskan. Advantages of the method described are saving time and materials, and avoiding the use of radioactive nuclides. This microassay may therefore be a useful substitute for macro and semi-micro tests for colorimetric determination of serum complement activity and for microassays based on the release of a radio-isotope.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins