Complement activation induced by air bubbles in rabbit and human sera was studied by measuring the generation of anaphylatoxin des-Arg-C5a. des-Arg-C5a was quantified by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays based on neoepitope-specific anti-des-Arg-C5a monoclonal antibodies. Air bubbles were continuously introduced to serum via a calibrated microflowmeter, and the serum was incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Air bubbles clearly generated increased amounts of des-Arg-C5a compared with corresponding levels in control serum, and a dose-dependent effect was also noted. Strong positive correlations between des-Arg-C5a concentrations in control sera and sera incubated with air bubbles at a flow of 0.5 ml/min were found. To study variation over time, serum was obtained at regular intervals from six rabbits and from six healthy humans during 66- and 196-day periods, respectively. A pronounced intraindividual variability over time was thus observed. The reason for the large variability is at present unknown. We conclude that the sensitivity of complement to activation by air bubbles is not an inherent, static feature of the complement system of an individual. Therefore single-point analysis of complement activation by air bubbles appears to be an inappropriate parameter by which to differentiate a "sensitive" or "insensitive" complement system between individuals.