Rapid Detection of Australia Antigen by Counterimmunoelectrophoresis

TLDR: With this technique small amounts of antigen with relatively rapid electrophoretic mobility can be detected by specific precipitation with antibody in 1 hr, which is at least 10 times as sensitive as the Ouchterlony double diffusion method.

Abstract: This report describes the detection of Australia antigen by counterelectrophoresis in agar gel. With this technique small amounts of antigen with relatively rapid electrophoretic mobility can be detected by specific precipitation with antibody in 1 hr (1, 2). In addition to its speed the technique is at least 10 times as sensitive as the Ouchterlony double diffusion method. Materials and Methods. Sera containing Australia antigen were obtained from patients with acute viral hepatitis. Specific antisera were from hemophiliacs who had received numerous blood transfusions and were thus repeatedly exposed to hepatitis virus. The standard sera containing Australia antigen used in this laboratory, as well as the homologous antisera, have been shown to have the same specificities as those employed by Blumberg (3) and Prince (4). Counterelectrophoresis is carried out on Kodak projection slides (3.25 × 4 in) covered with 10 ml of 0.85% Agarose in Veronal buffer, 0.05 M, pH 8.2.