The principle of the double antibody sandwich ELISA is represented in Figure 1. In this assay the C3 present in serum sample reacts with the anti-C3. antibodies which have been adsorbed to the surface of polystyrene microtitre wells. After the removal of unbound serum proteins by washing, anti-C3. antibodies conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), are added. These enzyme-labeled antibodies form complexes with the previously bound serum C3. Following another washing step, the enzyme bound to the immunosorbent is assayed by the addition of a chromogenic substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The quantity of bound enzyme varies directly with the concentration of C3 in the sample tested; thus, the absorbance, at 450 nm, is a measure of the concentration of C3 in the test sample. The quantity of C3 in the test sample can be interpolated from the standard curve constructed from the standards, and corrected for serum dilution.