Long-term follow-up of Hepatitis B Surface antibody levels in subjects receiving universal Hepatitis B vaccination in infancy in an area of hyperendemicity: correlation between radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay.
The aims of the present study were to determine (i) the long-term immunogenicity and the decay rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antibody (anti-HBs) from universal hepatitis B vaccination at infancy for a healthy population in an area of hyperendemicity and (ii) whether the anti-HBs levels measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were closely correlated with those assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods during long-term monitoring. A total of 1,337 apparently healthy children (696 boys and 641 girls) who were vaccinated against HBV at infancy and monitored for anti-HBs annually from 7 to 16 years of age entered the study. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-HBs by RIA at 7 to 15 years of age and were also analyzed by EIA at 13 to 16 years of age. Antibody titers were quantified in mIU/ml by EIA as well as by the ratio of the count in the sample to the count for a negative control (S/N) by RIA. In non-boosted children, the average decay of anti-HBs from 7 to 16 years of ages indicated that approximately 20% of the geometric mean titer decays per year. There was a good correlation between serum anti-HBs levels measured by the RIA and the EIA methods (r=0.91; P<0.0001). An equation for RIA to EIA level conversion was established: log EIA titer=-0.12+ (1.31 . log RIA S/N). The anti-HBs titers measured by EIA correlate well with the S/N assayed by RIA. The annual decay rate of the log anti-HBs level may help in planning booster immunizations for hypo-responders or individuals at risk in adolescence.
Wang
Ching-Wen
CW
Department of Pediatrics, Hepatitus Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Wang
Li-Chieh
LC
Chang
Mei-Hwei
MH
Ni
Yen-Hsuan
YH
Chen
Huey-Ling
HL
Hsu
Hong-Yuan
HY
Chen
Ding-Shin
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines