Comparison of radioimmunoassay and counter-immunoelectrophoresis for the detection of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.
A competitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was set up using purified hepatitis B core antigen and 125I-labeled anti-HBc. RIA was compared with counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) for anti-HBc by examining a panel of quality control sera, clinical specimens screened for evidence of hepatitis B virus infection and sera collected during a VD clinic survey. RIA for anti-HBc was found to be more sensitive and more specific than CIEP. It detected anti-HBc in all HBsAg-positive and in most anti-HBs-positive patients. CIEP for anti-HBc was also positive in almost all HBsAg-positive patients but was frequently negative in anti-HBs-positive patients. Non-specific reactions occurred in both tests but by RIA they could be more easily distinguished from true positives.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens