Diagnosis of complement deficiencies typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation and laboratory tests. Some of the common tests include:
- Complement Activity Tests: These tests measure the overall activity of the complement system. The CH50 (total hemolytic complement) assay is commonly used to evaluate the classical pathway, while the AH50 assay is used for the alternative pathway. - Specific Complement Protein Levels: Measuring the levels of individual complement proteins (e.g., C3, C4) can help identify specific deficiencies. - Genetic Testing: For congenital complement deficiencies, genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis and identify specific mutations.
