Comparison of sensitivity and specificity of counter electrophoresis, complement fixation and radioimmunoassay for detecting antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen.

Sensitivity and specificity of anti-HBc detection by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CEP), complement fixation (CF) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) tests were compared in sera from 69 patients with chronic hepatitis, 61 black African people suffering from primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 50 controls composed of French country people. CEP and CF tests gave the same results in detecting anti-HBc antibodies. The RIA test was found to be more sensitive and seems to be more specific than CEP and CF.