[Serological hepatitis B characteristics in clinical laboratory control sera]

99 samples of 29 different reference sera were tested for HBs-antigen and anti-HBs radioimmunologically and by means of counter-current electrophoresis. 4 of 99 (4%) of the samples and 4 of 29 (14%) of the reference sera were HBs-antigen positive. 45 of 99 (45%) of the samples and 5 of 29 (17%) of the reference sera were anti-HBs positive. Reference sera are an additional risk for hepatitis in clinical laboratories and must be considered potentially infectious.