agar and Hepatitis--Animal

The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) has been shown to possess distinct subtypes adw, ayw, adr, and ayr). A commercially available solid phase radioimmunoassay for antibody to HBSAg (Ausab, Abbott Laboratories North Chicago, Ill.) has been modified to detect the subtypes of HBSAg as well as the subtype-specific anti-HBS reactivities to detect the subtypes of HBSAg as well as the subtype-specific anti-HBS reactivities (anti-d, anti-y, and anti-w). This method has the advantages of general availability, ease of performance, and increased sensitivity over conventional subtyping methods of agar gel diffusion and counterelectrophoresis.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Blood Donors; Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis, Animal; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Indicators and Reagents; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Pan troglodytes; Radioimmunoassay; United States

A matrix gel diffusion (MGD) procedure with a sensitivity comparable to the complement fixation test (CF) has been developed for detecting Australia antigen in serum. The test utilizes a thin layer of agar (0.1 mm) with an applied plastic matrix. Reactants are introduced directly onto the surface of the agar through wells in the plastic matrix. End points obtained by CF with a panel of 11 sera varied from 1:8 to 1:512. When these sera were tested by MGD, end points for detection of antigen were within one dilution of that obtained by CF.

Topics: Agar; Animals; Complement Fixation Tests; Erythrocytes; Haplorhini; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis, Animal; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunodiffusion; Methods; Plastics; Sheep; Staining and Labeling; Tannins; Thiazines