C3 Nephritic Factor
C3 nephritic factor is an autoantibody to the alternative complement pathway C3 convertase which allows persistent activation of C3 convertase which cleaves and activates C3, leading to a persistant decrease in C3.
| Tube | Serum Gel |
|---|---|
| ID | 12804 |
| Additional Information | Should be requested in any patient with an unexplained persistently low complement C3 with C4 within the reference range. Associated with Mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type II and also partial lipodystrophy (sparing the lower limbs). The presence of C3 nephritic factor has also been observed in a variety of disorders; including membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, post-streptococcus glomerulonephritis, partial lipodystrophy, SLE, urticarial vasculitis, with hypocomplementemia being a common feature. Approximately two-thirds of patients with partial lipodystropy have a low C3 and circulating C3 nephritic factor, and have an increased tendency to develop membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. If positive in patients with renal disease it strongly suggests membranoproliferative glomerular nephritis |
| Turn Around | Refer to relevant laboratory for up to date turn around times, allowing an additional 10 working days for samples processing, dispatch and reporting and validation of the results (estimated 28days) |
| Send to | Samples should be sent to the department of Clinical Immunology at LGI who will refer to appropriate referral lab (Sheffield PRU) |
| Contact | https://www.immqas.org.uk/pru.asp?S=348233353&C=1252&AID=51 |
| Frequency | Referred to external laboratory |
| Sample REQ | Blood |
| Ref. Range Notes | See reference range on referral website |
| Units | NA |
| IP Acute TAT | Contact referral laboratory. Contact Immunology at LGI if sample is to be sent urgently. |
| IP Routine TAT | Refer to relevant laboratory for up to date turn around times, allowing an additional 10 working days for samples processing, dispatch and reporting and validation of the results. |
| GP Acute TAT | Contact referral laboratory. Contact Immunology at LGI if sample is to be sent urgently. |
| GP Routine TAT | Refer to relevant laboratory for up to date turn around times, allowing an additional 10 working days for samples processing, dispatch and reporting and validation of the results. |
| Telepath | C3NF1L |
| ICE Codes | IC3NF |
