title: Evaluation of a red cell agglutination test for detection of Australia antigen (HG Ag).
abstract: An investigational red cell agglutination (RCA) test was evaluated for sensitivity in detecting and titering hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) in comparison with two counterelectrophoresis (CEP) systems and a solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). The RCA procedure was found to be significantly more sensitive than the CEP methods and compares favorably in sensitivity with the solid-phase RIA, detecting even lower concentrations of the HB Ag. Since the RCA test can be completed in 2 to 3 h and requires relatively inexpensive equipment, it offers a highly sensitive and rapid procedure suitable for use in blood banks to screen donors or detect low levels of antigen in serum of patients.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000276:immunology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D008722:Methods; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D007456:Iodine Isotopes