Prospective study of hepatitis B in thirty-two inadvertently infected people.

Red blood cells from a single donor were used for stimulation of red-cell antibodies in 32 volunteers. In mid-April 1978, the RBC donor had sexual contact with a partner who later developed hepatitis. The donor was asymptomatic, HBsAg negative and had normal SGOT at the time of the donations of June 14 and July 19, but became HBsAg positive by August 30, and developed acute hepatitis in October 1978. The donor's blood was infective at least 36 and possibly 76 days before HBsAg became detectable by radioimmunoassay. Washing of RBC had no effect on the incidence of seroconversion. Hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-HBs or both became detectable in 28 (87.5%) of the 32 volunteers. Thirteen (42%) developed a self-limited acute hepatitis with jaundice. None became an HBsAg carrier. There were no secondaries among work, casual, or family contacts, but close family members and sexual partners were given hepatitis-B immune globulin.