Hepatitis-Associated Antigen: Detection by Antibody-Sensitized Latex Particles

Abstract

Latex particles sensitized with anti-hepatitis-associated antigen were found to agglutinate specifically when mixed with hepatitis-associated antigen-containing human serum. An assay for the agent based on this reaction was found to be slightly more sensitive than complement fixation. Comparison of this method with other assays done independently in different laboratories on the same coded samples showed excellent correlation. Results obtained by testing 4255 normal random blood donors by latex particle agglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis are included. The rapidity and simplicity of the latex particle agglutination assay suggest that it may be adaptable to large scale blood donor screening.