Comparative study of methods of detection of hepatitis 'B' surface antigen (HBsAg)

The serum samples were collected from 52 patients of acute viral hepatitis and 235 hospital staff from Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases. HBsAg was detected in their sera by counter-immuno-electrophoresis (CIEP), reverse passive hemogglutination (RPHA) and by micro-enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Among the patients, HBsAg was detected in 12 cases (23%) by CIEP, in 18 cases (34%) by RPHA and in 23 patients (45%) by ELISA. In the hospital staff, HBsAg was detected in 4 samples (1.7%) by CIEP, in 8 samples (3.5%) by RPHA and in 32 samples (13.5%) by ELISA. Thus ELISA was found to be the most sensitive technique in detecting HBsAg.