Enzyme immunoassay for the detection of hepatitis B virus core antigen.

A solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in preparations of core particles isolated from hepatocyte nuclei and obtained from serum Dane particles. Comparison with counterelectrophoresis (CEP) showed that the sensitivity of ELISA is about 80-100 times greater than that of CEP. The enzyme immunoassay was applied to studies on conversion of HBcAg to HBeAg and it was shown that treatment of core particles with SDS and 2-ME leading to exposure of HBeAg determinants resulted in a complete loss of antigenic activity of HBcAg.