CH 50

The primary utility of the CH50 in the practice of an
allergist-immunologist is to screen for complement- deficiency associated immunodeficiency (primarily
classic or terminal complement component
deficiencies). Absent or significantly reduced individual
complement components may result in infections,
Neisserial meningitis, or sepsis.
A reduced CH50 in this situation warrants
quantification and functional assays of individual
complement components.
Reduction of the CH50 occurs when individual
complement component(s) are deficient or consumed.