Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen: immunochemical purification from standard immune serum globulin

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be insolubilized onto a controlled pore glass (CPG) matrix by simple adsorption from acidified serum or plasma. The resultant complex has the properties of an HBsAg-specific immunoadsorbent. In this study, CPG-HBsAg complexes have been used to adsorb anti-HBs from standard immune serum globulin. Specific antibodies were eluted with acidic or chaotropic buffers. Recoveries ranging from 29 to 46 per cent, with purifications of approximately 1000-fold were obtained. Two procedures designed to inactivate hepatitis B virus had no effect upon the immunoadsorbent properties of the CPG-HBsAg complex. The possibility of using this simple method to prepare hepatitis B immune globulin is discussed.