A simple purification procedure for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs) by monoclonal antibody immunosorbent affinity...

Using immobilized monoclonal antibodies (anti-HBs) to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs) as an immunosorbent affinity column, a simple and effective procedure for HBs purification has been developed. A serum sample containing high titer HBs (i.e. HBe-positive serum) is passed through the column without prior treatment. The HBs is further purified by cesium chloride gradient ultracentrifugation. The recovery of HBs is greater than 70% while the purity is very comparable to those obtained from several isopycnic and rate zonal ultracentrifugation procedures (Dreesman et al., 1972). Over a period of two months, the column was used repeatedly for thirty cycles without any noticeable deterioration.