title: Comparison of radioimmunoassay and counterimmunoelectrophoresis for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers in a high-prevalence region.
abstract: Solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) were compared for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers among blood donors in Jerusalem, which is in a region characterized by a high prevalence of HBsAg and a predominance of the ayw subtype. RIA detected 84% more HBsAg carriers than CIE, with the resultant exclusion of 1.8 times as many potentially infective donors. The results provide additional information concerning the specific increases in donor-carrier detection that are associated with the introduction of highly sensitive HBsAg tests in different geographic and epidemiologic circumstances.
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens