Immunoaffinity purification of hepatitis B surface antigen using anti-idiotype as a specific eluent

An immunoaffinity method for the purification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using monoclonal anti-idiotype (anti-Id) as a specific eluent is described. Ammonium sulfate fractions of HBsAg-containing plasma were absorbed on monoclonal idiotype (Id) immunoadsorbents. The bound material was eluted from the column with the anti-Id of HBsAg. The eluate containing anti-Id was further purified by gel filtration. The procedure yielded highly purified HBsAg. The final HBsAg product was free from contaminating human plasma and mouse ascites proteins. The procedure is generally applicable and particularly attractive when the antigen is unstable under commonly used elution conditions.