title: Working standards for hepatitis B surface antigen for use in the UK Blood Transfusion Service: results of a collaborative study.
abstract: Twenty-six laboratories including 22 Blood Transfusion Centres in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland participated in a collaborative study to assess the suitability of proposed working standards for hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) for use in the UK Blood Transfusion Service. Data from 88 assays indicated that all laboratories could detect HBsAg in the proposed working standard at a concentration of 0.5 IU/ml. Samples containing HBsAg at a concentration of 0.125 IU/ml were scored positive in 80% of assays and it was concluded that this would be a suitable concentration for inclusion in a monitor sample which would indicate whether the sensitivity of an assay system in routine use is varying over a period of time. The use of a batch of 'provisional' working standard tested under field conditions over a period of 4 months has been monitored. HBsAg was not detected in only 2 out of 6,523 assays.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pipkin
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Minor
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens