Contrasting patterns and frequency of antibodies to the surface, core, and e antigens of hepatitis b virus in blood donors and in homosexual patients

Abstract

An attempt was made to assess the significance of the relatively frequent low‐titre positive reactions in radioimmunoassays for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.Serum specimens negative for surface antigen were assayed for antibodies to the surface, core, and e antigens of the Hepatitis B virus.Two populations were studied—one of low hepatitis B incidence (2000 blood donors) and one of high incidence (200 male patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases).The validity of some singly occurring low‐titre anti‐HBs and anti‐HBc reactions is questioned, and the occurrence of positive reactions unrelated to previous hepatitis B infection inferred.