Type B hepatitis: the infectivity of blood positive for e antigen and DNA polymerase after accidental needlestick exposure.
To determine the relation between the presence of donor DNA polymerase and e antigen, and recipient hepatitis, we tested, under code, serums from a controlled trial of hepatitis B immune globulin used to treat individuals accidentally inoculated with HBs Ag-positive blood. All recipients lacked antibody to HBs Ag. In 29 of 31 donors, both polymerase and e were in perfect agreement; both demonstrated a highly significant correlation with recipient hepatitis (P less than 0.001). DNA polymerase/e-negative blood did not cause hepatitis. Blood containing polymerase or e antigen did not cause hepatitis in six of 31 and four of 18 recipients, respectively. Hepatitis did not correlate with transaminase or duration of antigenemia in the donor. Polymerase and e appear to be indicators of the relative infectivity of HBs Ag-positive serum, particularly after small-volume exposure. They may be important determinants in assessing infectivity of chronic carriers of HBs Ag and in evaluating efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccines.
D000208:Acute Disease; D001782:Blood Donors; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens