[Evaluation of seven immunological assay reagents for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in the sensitivity and the detection of HBsAg mutants].
Mutants of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) are known as a cause of false-negative results in diagnostic tests for HBsAg; particularly when a diagnostic kit utilizes monoclonal antibodies to detect HBsAg. We compared seven HBsAg kits with regard to sensitivity for HBsAg subtypes (ad, ay) and their ability to detect nine different HBsAg mutants. Among them, the sensitivities of five kits were high and comparable to each other (0.2 - 0.3ng/ml). However, two kits were of lower sensitivity (0.8-1.3ng/ml, and 2.4-2.5ng/ml, respectively). Two kits, produced by the same company, reacted with all of the nine HBsAg mutants, but five kits showed false-negative results with one or more of the HBsAg mutants. These data indicate that there are differences in the detection sensitivities for HBsAg and abilities to detect HBsAg mutants among commercially available HBsAg kits, which may explain false-negative clinical results.
Laboratory for Clinical Investigation, Osaka University Hospital.
Matsuo
M
Deguchi
Masanori
M
Kagita
Seishi
S
Asari
Yoshinori
Y
Iwatani
Takahiko
T
Tuchida
Kazushige
K
Iinuma
Mark
M
Sanborn
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic