Simplified single radial immunodiffusion detection of albumin receptors on HBsAG particles and its significance regarding sero-changes of HBeAG in hepatitis-B patients.

A simplified single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) method to detect HBsAg particles albumin receptor activity in regard to polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA) (binding-activity of pHSA = pHSA-BA or albumin receptor activity) was developed and its significance in HBeAg-positive hepatitis B patients after a one year follow-up study was discussed. The pHSA-BA determined by the simplified SRID method was classified into 5 grades; +, +/- and -, and the results of this grading of test sera agreed well with those obtained by the ELISA quantitative assay. According to the results of one year follow-up study in sero-changes of HBeAg in 35 HBeAg-positive cases, 7 cases with pHSA-BA did not show HBeAg sero-change, but of 16 cases with pHSA-BA and 12 cases with (+) pHSA-BA 3 (18.8%) and 7 (58.3%) cases showed HBeAg sero-changes, respectively. These results suggest that the present simplified SRID detection of albumin receptor on HBsAg particles might be a useful method for the laboratory investigation of hepatitis B patients.