Serodiagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection by Antibody to Core Antigen.

摘要

Antibody to core antigen (anti-HB(c)) was found in 39% of acute hepatitis cases negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HB(s)Ag) and 96% of antigen positive cases. Persistence of anti-HB(c) in convalescent sera was significantly greater (P <.001) for individuals with acute antigen positive hepatitis B. The prevalence of anti-HB(c) HB(c) in the absence of HB(s)Ag or surface antibody (anti-HB(s)) was 3.2% in this military population. In longitudinal studies of hepatitis B infection the presence of anti-HB(c) preceeds anti-HB(s) and improves the ability to determine the onset of subclinical infection. Anti-HB(c) is a useful serological marker for the study of hepatitis B epidemiology and improves the efficiency of detection of Hepatitis B infection. (Author)