This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rajagopalan, M S Articles by John, T J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rajagopalan, M S Articles by John, T J

Sensitivity of passive bacterial agglutination for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen.

ABSTRACT

The sensitivity of passive bacterial agglutination (PBA), i.e., the agglutination of Staphylococcus aureus coated with antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen by hepatitis B surface antigen, was assessed by testing reference panel no. 3A sera (Bureau of Biologics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Of the 23 samples containing hepatitis B surface antigen, 18 were positive by PBA. Sera from 100 healthy adults were tested by PBA and reversed passive hemagglutination. Four sera were positive by both methods. One additional sample was positive only by PBA; if one assumes that it was a false-positive result, the rate of false-positive reactions was only 1%.