Dr Lal Pathlabs is set to introduce India’s first specialised Complement Testing Laboratory, a major advancement for diagnosing autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Across the country, an increasing number of people are seeking medical help for unexplained symptoms such as fever, joint discomfort, swelling, chronic fatigue, or kidney-related complications. Many of these conditions are difficult to diagnose early, often leading individuals to consult several healthcare providers before receiving clarity.
Autoimmune diseases frequently progress without obvious signs, silently affecting critical organs. Complement testing plays a key role in identifying disruptions within the immune system, helping to explain persistent or overlapping symptoms and enabling earlier and more accurate treatment decisions.
The complement system consists of a network of blood proteins that defend the body from infections, eliminate damaged cells, and help protect organs. When this system becomes weak, the risk of repeated or severe infections—especially in children—increases. Conversely, if it becomes overactive, it can mistakenly target healthy tissues, contributing to disorders such as lupus, vasculitis, certain kidney diseases including C3 glomerulopathy and atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), rheumatoid arthritis, transplant-related complications, and even severe infections like sepsis.
Because complement activity can go wrong in multiple ways, assessing how these proteins function is essential. Measuring key components such as C3, C4, and C5 provides crucial information on whether the immune system is overactive, underactive, or dysfunctional—insights that are vital for the early diagnosis and management of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
“Complement testing has long been underrepresented in India’s diagnostic landscape. By introducing functional and antibody-based complement assays such as C1q, C5, Factor B, Factor H antibody, AH50, and C1 INH functional, many for the first time in the country, we are enabling earlier and more precise insights into immune-mediated disease. This bridges the gap between research and routine clinical care,” said Dr. Vandana Lal, Executive Director, Dr Lal Pathlabs.
“As a pioneer in specialized diagnostics, we are proud to offer India’s first comprehensive complement testing platform. This marks a major step toward faster diagnosis, better treatment decisions, and improved outcomes for millions living with autoimmune and kidney diseases,” said Shankha Banerjee, CEO, Dr Lal Pathlabs.