Detection of HBe antigen in sera from HBs antigen asymptomatic carrier and hepatitis patients using polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Serum and plasma samples concentrated 8 to 10 times with polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a molecular weight of 6,000 were examined by micro-Ouchterlony (MO) analysis with a view to increasing the detection sensitivity for HBe antigen (HBeAg), one of the hepatitis B virus associated antigens, and HBe antibody (HBeAb). The subjects of this investigation consisted of 82 symptom-free HBsAg carriers and 59 patients with B hepatitis. HBeAg was detected in 22 (26.8%) and HBeAb in 43 (52.4%) of 82 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, and 17 (20.7%) were negative for both HBeAg and HBeAb. The corresponding values for the liver disease patients were 7 (11.9%), 16 (22.1%) and 36 (61.0%). Histologically, the rate of detection for HBeAg was higher in the cases of a mild disturbance.