Peter Skinhøj

Hepatitis-Associated Antigen Qualitative and Quantitative Determination

AbstractSera from groups of hepatitis patients, renal transplant recipients, and from normal, healthy individuals were examined for the presence of hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) by means of 3 different qualitative techniques: agar-gel diffusion, gel-electrophoresis, and a micro-complement fixation technique. Differences in the results obtained could be ascribed to differences in sensitivity of the tests employed and to differences in the amount of HAA present in the serum samples investigated, as measured by electrophoresis in antibody containing agar.

HEPATITIS-ASSOCIATED (AU/SH) ANTIGEN DETERMINATION IN 10,000 PATIENTS IN A COPENHAGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract 10,000 consecutively admitted patients were investigated for hepatitis-associated (AU/SH) antigen (H.A.A.). 35 patients had a positive result. 6 of these had acute hepatitis, 7 chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver, and 22 no apparent liver disease. Of the 35 H.A.A.-positive patients, 5 were under treatment with corticosteroids. On quantitation of H.A.A., 3 of the steroid-treated patients had the highest figures. 4 out of 16 patients became H.A.A.-negative in the follow-up period. Hospital personnel, if informed of patients who are H.A.A.-positive, can take steps to avoid transmitting infection.

Preparation and Characterization of Hepatitis B-antigen for Radioimmunoassay

A rapid and inexpensive method for purification of hepatitis B-antigen (HB-Ag) is described. By a precipitation procedure with polyethylenglycol 4000 HB-Ag can be separated from most serum proteins. Following gel filtration on a Sepharose 6B column immunologically pure antigen is obtained. For radioimmunoassay iodinated small spherical HB-Ag particles were found suitable as tracer. These particles were isolated by gel filtration on a Sepharose 4B column.

Occupational Risks in Danish Clinical Chemical Laboratories II. Infections

An inquiry study on the occurrence of occupational infections in clinical chemical laboratories showed that viral hepatitis remains a hazard. Within 59 laboratories 30 clinical cases occurred during 1968–73 (2.3 per year per 1000 employees). Attack rates were highest in laboratory technicians and dishwashers. 93 % of the cases were hepatitis type B as judged from hepatitis B-antigen determination. All cases but one had direct contact with patient-blood. In one-third of these, exposure to known infectious material was recorded. On the basis of these observations some prophylactic precautions are reviewed.

HAA‐Antigen Determination in 12,000 Patients in a General Copenhagen Hospital

We have 2 purposes in the systematic investigation for hepatitisassociated antigen (HAA) of every patient admitted to the hospital: 1. To reduce infection of other patients and personnel in the hospital by detection of the positive patients as soon as possible after their arrival and hereafter to take some practical precautions in the wards, in the operating theatres, and in the laboratories. 2. To elucidate the frequency and duration and also the intensity of the positive reactions in this special population, thereby possibly illustrate features of interest to pathogenesis and/or epidemiology.

Serological diagnosis of acute hepatitis B infection

The value of different serological assays of hepatitis B virus associated antigens and antibodies was tested in forty-eight consecutive cases of acute hepatitis negative for HBsAg by agargel diffusion. The tests included radioimmunoassay of HBsAg, IgM and IgG anti-HBs and counter-immunoelectrophoresis for anti-HBc detection. Twelve cases were identified as hepatitis B (25%). Eleven cases were positive for HBsAg by RIA, and only one case was detected by an increasing titre of antibodies alone. Further seventeen patients had an unchanged antibody titre to one or more antigens. It is concluded that a sensitive test for HBsAg is the most important tool for diagnosing acute hepatitis B infection.