Passive hemagglutination test for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen

Available tests for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) are complicated. A passive hemagglutination assay for anti-HBc was developed by sensitizing sheep erythrocytes with hepatitis B core antigen synthesized by a recombinant DNA technique. It was compared with a commercial passive hemagglutination assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-HBc and showed good agreement with both. It is rapid, simple, and sensitive.