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Test ID: AH50    
Complement, Alternate Pathway (AH50), Functional, Serum

Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

The assay is a radial diffusion procedure in which patient serum is allowed to diffuse into an agarose gel containing chicken RBCs. As the serum diffuses through the gel, C3b binds to the RBC membranes and is stabilized on the membrane with factor B. Factors D and P then bind, activate C5, and the membrane attack complex is formed and causes RBC lysis. The resultant clear circle is measured and the area of lysis is proportional to the amount of alternate pathway activity. A calibration curve is used to calculate the AH50 as "% norm."(Platts-Mills TAE, Ishizaka K: Activation of the alternative pathway of human complement by rabbit cells. J Immunol 1974;113:348-358)

Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.

Varies

Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.

2 days

Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result

7 days

Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester