C5B9: Complement Activation (Blood)

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Immunology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

C5B9

Test Code (Numeric Code)

7371

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

EDTA Plasma

Transport

Specimens must be transported and stored at 4°C

Registration

C5B9

Laboratory

Labplus Autoimmune Serology

Sample Stability

Specimens must be centrifuged at 4°C within 4 hours of collection, separated and stored at -20°C or lower

Synonyms

Complement C5b-9 complex
Terminal Complement Complex (TCC)
Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)
Soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9)
Complement activation
Terminal complement activation.

Turnaround Time

6 weeks

For non-liver transplant specimens

Specimen Type

  • Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • EDTA (Lavender Cap)
Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

2

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • EDTA (Lavender Cap)
Acceptable
  • EDTA (Microtainer)
Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

2

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1.5

Pre-testing Requirements

A dedicated blood specimen is required for this analysis

For urgent liver transplant specimens only:
1) Phone the laboratory before the specimen is taken
2) Hand-deliver the specimen to the laboratory

Additional Specimen Information

Information for the laboratory

A dedicated blood specimen is required for this analysis

Urgent specimens (only for liver transplant patients, with the specimen hand delivered from DCCM):
- Notify Paul Austin (Serology Section Lead), 022 632 1554
- Centrifuge specimen at 4°C and retain under refrigeration for collection by VIM staff

All other specimens:
- Monday to Friday: 0800-1630 (standard working hours)
- Weekends and Public Holidays: register, centrifuge specimen, remove all plasma and store in the designated C5B9 area in ALSS freezer 36

Last updated: 23/09/2026