Purification of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Using Polyethylene Glycol, Pepsin and Tween 801

Abstract

A simple, inexpensive procedure for the isolation and purification of HBSAg [hepatitis B surface antigen] from plasma is described. The technique included precipitation of HB/SAg with polyethylene glycol and elimination of normal plasma proteins by digestion with pepsin. Tween 80 was used to remove contaminating lipoprotein(s). This technique resulted in an .apprx. 200-fold gain in the specific activity of HBSAg and yielded .apprx. 20-40% recovery. Rabbits immunized with the purified antigen produced type-specific antibodies to HBSAg without detectable reactivity to normal human plasma antigens.