title: Age- and sex-related distribution of antibodies to hepatitis B surface and core antigens in a Swedish population.
abstract: Serum samples from people born between the years 1895 and 1970 were collected and tested for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by passive haemagglutination (PHA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA), and for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEOP). Neither anti-HBs nor anti-HBc was detected in the serum from anyone under 15 years of age. The prevalence of anti-HBs and anti-HBc showed peaks of 9.2 and 8.3 per cent, respectively, in the age group of 40-49 years. The distribution of antibody was equal between men and women. Eighty per cent of the sera with anti-HBs were also positive for anti-HBc. All sera positive for anti-HBc also contained anti-HBs.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens