title: Radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B core antigen.
abstract: Serum hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) is an important marker of hepatitis B virus replication. We describe an easy, sensitive radioimmunoassay for determination of HBcAg in detergent-treated serum pellets containing Dane particles. Components of a commercial kits for anti-core determination are used, and HBcAG is measured by competitive inhibition of binding of 125I-labeled antibodies to HBcAg with HBcAg-coated beads. We assayed of HBcAG in the sera of 49 patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive chronic hepatitis, 50 patients with HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis, and 30 healthy volunteers. HBcAg was detected in 41% of patients with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis but not in patients with HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis Be antigen (an antigen closely associated with the core of Dane particles) determined in the same sera by radioimmunoassay, was not detected in 50% of HBcAg-positive sera.
mesh_terms: D003429:Cross Reactions; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens