title: Establishment of a method for measuring total complement activity based on a hemolysis system using own red blood cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a simple, stable method for measuring total complement activity in plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total complement activity (TCA) of plasma was measured using a classical method (CH50 method) and a self-hemolysis colorimetric method (new method). Human red blood cells (RBCs) were used as a hemolysis indicator system and rabbit-anti-human RBC antibody instead of the traditional hemolysin (rabbit-anti-sheep RBC antibody) in the new method. TCA in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and healthy individuals was measured using the new method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCA using the new method and the CH50 method were significantly correlated. TCA in ICU patients was significantly lower than that in healthy individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The self-hemolysis colorimetric method is a simple and stable method, and has potential value in clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 11604, China.
authors.forename: Ruirui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Laboratory, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 11604, China. Electronic address: immunology@dlmedu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D003124:Colorimetry; D003167:Complement Activation; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins
keywords: Complement; Hemolysis system; Red blood cell