Enzyme immunoassay of HBeAg employing beta-D-galactosidase.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was developed employing beta-D-galactosidase conjugated with antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) and using m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester as the coupling reagent. The experimental conditions for quantitative assay of HBeAg were determined. The presence of rheumatoid factor in test sera did not affect the results. This assay system is more sensitive than the micro-Ouchterlony method and as sensitive as radioimmunoassay. The use of beta-D-galactosidase for ELISA in the field of virology is recommended.