Application of a screening test for antibody the hepatitis B core antigen. Issue 8 (August 1977)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cohen, B J; Cossart, Y E
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 30:Issue 8(1977)
• Page Start: 709
• Page End: 713
• Publication Date: 1977-08
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.30.8.709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was prepared from human liver tissue and used in an immunoelectro-osmophoresis screening test to detect antibody to HBcAg (anti-HBc) in patients with evidence of liver disease and in blood donors. With the exception of two immunosuppressed HBsAg carriers, anti-HBc was found in all cases of hepatitis B infection even when HBsAg was detectable only by radioimmunoassay. Non-specific reactions were observed in 'non-B' hepatitis but, in spite of this problem, antib-HBc screening was considered a useful addition to routine tests in the clinical hepatitis laboratory.