An electron microscopic demonstration of immune complexes of hepatitis B e-antigen using colloid gold as a marker.

Immune complexes of the hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) could be labeled and thus visually identified in the electron microscope by using antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) tagged with colloidal gold particles. Circulating immune complexes of HBeAg were detected in sera from patients with acute hepatitis B infections as well as from asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg). Sera positive for rheumatoid factor frequently contained mixed aggregates in which immune complexes of HBsAg were closely bound to immune complexes of HBeAg.