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An Agglutination-Flocculation Test for Rapid Detection of Hepatitis B Antigen

From the Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Abstract

Evaluation of a simple, rapid, agglutination-flocculation test (AFT) for detection of hepatitis B antigen (HBAg) is described. The reaction involves simultaneous flocculation and agglutination of antigen by specific antibody in the presence of synthetic acrylic particles. The AFT is over 1000-fold more sensitive for detection of HBAg than conventional counterimmunoelectrophoresis and approximately 8-fold more sensitive than solid-phase radioimmunoassay. HBAg subtype differences can be determined readily in the AFT with antibody of appropriate specificity. On coded analysis of 149 clinical specimens, AFT reactivity was in 92 to 95% agreement with other HBAg methods. Approximately one-third of high titer rheumatoid sera produces an AFT reaction which could easily be distinguished with appropriate controls from a true positive.

Footnotes

¹ Present address: Department of Medicine, Rutgers Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.