title: Contrasting patterns and frequency of antibodies to the surface, core, and e antigens of hepatitis B virus in blood donors and in homosexual patients.
abstract: An attempt was made to assess the significance of the relatively frequent low-titre positive reactions in radioimmunoassays for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. Serum specimens negative for surface antigen were assayed for antibodies to the surface, core, and e antigens of the Hepatitis B virus. Two populations were studied - one of low hepatitis B incidence (2000 blood donors) and one of high incidence (200 male patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases). The validity of some singly occurring low-titre anti-HBs and anti-HBc reactions is questioned, and the occurrence of positive reactions unrelated to previous hepatitis B infection inferred.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D004739:England; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens