Stability of a reference panel of lyophilized hepatitis B antigens and antibodies

A lyophilized hepatitis B working/reference panel has been prepared for use in standardization tests. This panel includes HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg/anti-HBe and subtype reagents. Quantitative analysis of the HBsAg reagents indicates that at a storage temperature of -20 degrees C, only 1 log at maximum of RIA counts per minute would be lost in 95 years. After storage at -20 degrees C for 1 year, there has been no loss of reactivity in any of the tests used to detect HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg/anti-HBe or subtypes.