Rapid detection of hepatitis B virus using a haemagglutination assay in an ultrasonic standing wave field.

A haemagglutination test for Hepatitis B virus has been expedited by increasing cell-cell contact through concentrating antibody-coated erythrocytes in an ultrasonic standing wave field. The reactants used were taken from a commercially available Hepatitis B surface antigen screening kit, which is commonly employed in hospital laboratories and blood banks to screen human sera. When performed in microwells, as prescribed in the kit, positive and negative reactions were discernible after 30 min. However, with the ultrasonic technique these reactions can be distinguished within 5 min.