Effect of time, temperature and anticoagulants on in vitro complement activation: consequences for collection and preservation of samples to be examined for complement activation

T E Mollnes, P Garred, G Bergseth

160 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of time, temperature, ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), citrate and heparin on in vitro complement activation were examined in enzyme immuno assays (EIA) for detection of C3 activation products and the terminal complement complex (TCC). In vitro complement activation occurred during coagulation since baseline concentrations of activation products were considerably higher in serum than in plasma. EDTA was more efficient than citrate and heparin in inhibiting in vitro activation. Minimal activation was observed in all preparations when samples were kept at 4 degrees C for up to ten days, whereas a very rapid increase in activation products occurred even in EDTA plasma when the temperature was elevated. Based on the data obtained, guidelines for the collection and preservation of samples to be examined for complement activation are given.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical and Experimental Immunology
Volume73
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)484-8
Number of pages5
ISSN0009-9104
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1988
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood Preservation
  • Citrates/pharmacology
  • Citric Acid
  • Complement Activation/drug effects
  • Complement C3/metabolism
  • Complement Membrane Attack Complex
  • Complement System Proteins/biosynthesis
  • Edetic Acid/pharmacology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes/analysis
  • Freezing
  • Heparin/pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Specimen Handling/methods
  • Temperature

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