Markers of hepatitis viruses A and B: direct comparison between whole serum and blood spotted on filter-paper.

The use of blood spotted on filter-paper is a cheap and convenient method for collecting, storing and transporting samples for analysis of markers of hepatitis virus B. Vaccine against viral hepatitis B is now available but is expensive, and, in order to make the best use of it, large-scale screening programmes need to be carried out in endemic areas prior to immunization campaigns. The sensitivity of the filter-paper method was compared with that of the analysis of whole serum, and the epidemiological data produced by the two methods were analysed. It was found that analysis of eluates of blood spotted on filter-paper cannot be recommended if accurate results are wanted, since large numbers of seropositive persons are likely to be missed; however, it may be a suitable method for detecting HBsAg-carriers and most anti-HBs-positive individuals prior to an immunization campaign.