Comment on C3d Generation in Septicaemic Newborns

Comparative Study of Four Tests of Bacterial Infection in the Neonate

“…To isolate C3d fragments from other C3 derivatives with C3d antigenic determinants, we used the PEG 6000 precipitation method [4], This method has been criticized [5] since only 80% of C3 molecules, but also 20% of C3d molecules are precipitated as found by Mollnes [6], In the same study, however, an excellent correlation was found (r = 0.93; p < 0.0001) between the results obtained using an ELISA method, on PEG 6000 precipitated samples, and a double-decker rocket immunoelectrophoresis method, without prior pre cipitation. An excellent correlation (r = 0.93) was also found between the results obtaining using the PEG separation method and those obtained with an ELISA in samples depleted of C3c by immunoabsorption [7], In spite of its limitations, numerous other authors have also used this method of separation [8,9], Using this method of separating the C3 catab- Patients Day of study olites, Hack et al [10] only found 0.3-0.6% of plasma C3 in the supernatant.…”