Antibodies to hepatitis B surface and core antigens in haemophiliacs and their contacts among hospital personnel.

In a group of 65 haemophilia patients one was a chronic carrier of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the remaining 64 patients had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). The antigen carrier and 63 of 64 haemophiliacs with anti-HBs also had antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). In a second group consisting of 6 younger haemophiliacs, whose treatment with clotting-factor concentrates was started after the initiation of HBsAg tests of all blood products, 3 showed evidence of ongoing or past infection with hepatitis B virus. The prevalences of anti-HBs and anti-HBc among the personnel of the Coagulation Laboratory did not differ from that of the normal population. Anti-HBs was detected by passive haemagglutination and radioimmunoassay, and anti-HBc by immunoelectroosmophoresis.