[Demonstration of hepatitis B (surface) antigen. A comparison of different serological methods (author's transl)]

Four third generation tests for the demonstration of hepatitis B (surface) antigen were assessed (Hepamosticon test from Organon-Teknika, Auscell test, Ausria I 125 test and Ausria II 125 test from Abbott) and the results compared with those of immunodiffusion and counter-current electrophoresis (1st and 2nd generation). The results show that the Ausria II 125 test comes very close to the ideal of an optimal test for demonstrating hepatitis B (surface) antigen (HBs antigen). It is clearly superior to both other tests from Abbott and in particular to the Hepanosticon test and the tests of the 1st and 2nd generation. The Ausria I 125 test can be considered as a precursor of the Ausria II 125 test and is less satisfactory as regards sensitivity and practicability and approximately equally good as regards specificity. It should not be considered in the choice of a sensitive test for demonstrating HBs antigen as it has been replaced by the Ausria II 125 test. The Auscell test resembles the Ausria I 125 test as regards sensitivity, its specificity is considerably lower. There are also definite disadvantages in the practicability. The Hepanosticon test is considerably less sensitive than the three tests from Abbott while it is easy to carry out. Its specificity is worse than that of radio-immunoassay and better than that of the Auscell test. In any case it is necessary to test the specificity in all passive haemagglutination tests. Due to poor sensitivity use of both tests of 1st and 2nd generations must be discouraged.