Dane particles, DNA polymerase, and e-antigen in two different categories of hepatitis B antigen carriers.

Two different categories of hepatitis B antigen carriers have been investigated. One comprises patients treated with dialysis and known to be highly infectious. The other consists of blood donors found in routine screenings. Serum specimens have been studied with regard to Dane particles. Dane-core-associated DNA polymerase activity, and e-antigen. The two groups differed markedly in the aspects studied. The five healthy blood donors had no, or very few, detectable Dane particles and no detectable DNA polymerase activity; four of the five healthy donors had antibodies against e-antigen. The one xickk donor and all six dialysis patients had many Dane particles and polymerase activity; five of the sick dialysis patients had e-antigen. Thus, these results further underline the difference between the two groups, and e-antigen and DNA polymerase activity could represent possible useful parameters for judging infectivity.