Journal of Gastroenterology
March 2017, Volume 52, Issue 3, pp 376–384
Novel and highly sensitive immunoassay for total hepatitis B surface antigen, including that complexed with hepatitis B surface antibody
- Akihiro Matsumoto
- Masayasu Imaizumi
- Yasuhito Tanaka
- Shuhei Nishiguchi
- Hiroshi Yatsuhashi
- Takehiko Ishida
- Kazushige Moriyama
- Katsumi Aoyagi
- Eiji TanakaEmail author
- Akihiro Matsumoto
- Masayasu Imaizumi
- Yasuhito Tanaka
- Shuhei Nishiguchi
- Hiroshi Yatsuhashi
- Takehiko Ishida
- Kazushige Moriyama
- Katsumi Aoyagi
- Eiji Tanaka
Email author
- 1.Department of MedicineShinshu University School of MedicineMatsumotoJapan
- 2.New Product Development DepartmentFujirebio Inc.HachiojiJapan
- 3.Department of Virology and Liver UnitNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
- 4.Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Internal MedicineHyogo College of MedicineNishinomiyaJapan
- 5.Clinical Research CenterNational Hospital Organization, Nagasaki Medical CenterOmuraJapan
- 6.Research and Development DepartmentAdvanced Life Science Institute Inc.WakoJapan
Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary TractFirst Online: 26 July 2016
DOI: 10.1007/s00535-016-1244-7
Cite this article as: Matsumoto, A., Imaizumi, M., Tanaka, Y. et al. J Gastroenterol (2017) 52: 376. doi:10.1007/s00535-016-1244-7
AbstractBackgroundHepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is used as a clinical marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, conventional HBsAg assays have so far failed to accurately detect HBsAg in blood because of interference by patient-derived antibodies against HBsAg (HBsAb).
MethodsWe developed a novel, fully automated assay system that can detect total HBsAg in blood, including antigens complexed with HBsAb. The immunoassay inactivates HBsAb via a simple pretreatment step to dissociate the HBsAg molecule from HBsAg–HBsAb complexes and thereby estimate total HBsAg. Accordingly, the test has been termed the “immunoassay for total antigen including complex via pretreatment (iTACT)-HBsAg.”
ResultsThe recovery rate of HBsAg in the presence of HBsAb was greater than 87 % at a cutoff value set at 5.0 mIU/mL on the basis of data from 545 healthy controls. Analyses using serial serum samples from 25 HBV carriers who became negative for HBsAg during follow-up showed that the iTACT-HBsAg could detect HBsAg over a period of years despite a loss in detection by conventional assays and was able to detect HBsAg in 39 (53 %) of 73 samples with HBsAb.
ConclusionsThe new iTACT-HBsAg assay appears to detect total HBsAg with high sensitivity, even in the presence of HBsAb, and may useful in identifying subclinical or occult HBV carriers.
KeywordsImmunoassayHepatitis B surface antigenImmunoassay for total antigen including complex via pretreatment
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