Quantitative analysis of the major subdeterminants of hepatitis B surface antigen.

Antisera monospecific for subtyping of speciments of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) were prepared by affinity chromatography. These sera were then used for quantitation of the a, d, and y subdeterminants of HBS Ag on a standard panel of sera and on 41 unselected sera containing HBS Ag. Although 25 of this latter group were completely monospecific for ad or ay, the remaining 16 sera showed degrees of cross-reaction with the heterologous antiserum. It is suggested that d and y subdeterminants are not infrequently present on the same particle.