title: Sensitive assays for hepatitis A antibodies.
abstract: Two commercial assay kits for detecting antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) have been modified in order to increase their sensitivity. These modifications are made by less dilution of the test serum, in the case of Abbott HAVAB-M assay, or by an increase in the volumetric ratio of the test serum to the labeled anti-HAV in the case of the Abbott HAVAB assay. These modifications result in 5- to 20-fold increases in test sensitivity and enable the detection of anti-HAV at 2-3 weeks following vaccination. The earlier detection of anti-HAV is important to vaccine development in assuring the presence of antibody levels in travelers sooner after vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hurni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nalin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000737:chemistry; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D012452:Saguinus; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines