Serodiagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection by antibody to core antigen.
In a military population antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was found in 39% of acute hepatitis cases negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) and in 96% of HBs Ag-positive cases. Persistence of antibody to HBs Ag (anti-HBs) in convalescent-phase sera was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) in individuals with acute HBs Ag-positive hepatitis B than in patients with clinical HBs Ag-negative hepatitis B. The prevalence of anti-HBc in the absence of HBs Ag, anti-HBs, and clinical disease was 3.2% in this military population. In longitudinal studies of hepatitis B  infection, the presence of anti-HBc preceded anti-HBs and improved the ability to determine the onset of sublicnical infection. Anti-HBc is a useful serologic marker for the study of the epidemiology of hepatitis B and improves the efficiency of detection of hepatitis B virus infection.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens