Abstract: Red-cell immune adherence (RCIA) tests were studied in 38 SLE patients and the results were compared with 67 normal blood donors. In the 26 active cases of SLE group, the rate of RBC C₃b receptor rosette formation lower than that of control (t=4.71, P<0.001), while that for RBC immune complex rosette formation was higher than the control (t=12.21, P<0.001). In 12 SLE patients during remission, the rate of RBC C₃ receptor rosette formation was not different from controls, but the rate of RBC immune comptex rosette formation were still significant from controls (t=3.34, P<0.001). RCIA tests were also studied in 14 SLE patients before and after prednisone therapy in order to evaluate the clinical significance of the tests.