A new screening test for C3 nephritis factor based on a stable cell bound convertase on sheep erythrocytes.

C3 nephritis factor (C3nef) activity was measured by the incubation of sheep erythrocytes with a mixture of normal human serum and patient's serum in EGTA followed by lysis of the washed cells with rat C in EDTA. The C convertase activity on the cells was dependent on the dose of patient's serum. Activation of human C3-C9 by the washed cells was shown by lysis of susceptible target cells (chicken erythrocytes). The test is specific for C3nef.