Failure to detect naturally occurring serum inhibitors of hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase.

Sera of patients with past or ongoing hepatitis -B virus infection were tested for the presence of inhibitors of hepatitis -B virus-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase activity. None of the sera tested, which included those from anti-hepatitis B surface- and anti-hepatitis B core antigen-positive hemophiliacs, anti-hepatitis Bc antigen-positive hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, patients with hepatitis B surface antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis, hepatitis B surface antigen-positive hemodialysis patients, tumor patients with minimal hepatitis, patients with acute type B, type A, and type non-A, non-B hepatitis and individuals with autoimmune phenomena, contained inhibitors of DNA polymerase activity. This implies that the DNA polymerase test is not affected when utilized to quantitate DNA-containing Dane particles.

Tests for Dane particles in serum concentrates of HBsAg positive hemodialysis patients.

The present study was undertaken to assess the infectivity of sera from HBsAg positive hemodialysis patients by measuring HBeAg, DNA polymerase activity and Dane particle associated HBcAg. Of 33 sera tested 25 were positive for at least one of these tests for Dane particles, indicating that most HBsAg positive hemodialysis patients are highly infectious. The demonstration of DNA polymerase activity in serum concentrates was proven to be the most sensitive assay for the detection and quantitation of Dane particles in serum.

Simultaneous presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in the serum of different subtypes (serological and immunofluorescent studies).

Serological and immunofluorescent studies were performed in 3 patients with the simultaneous presence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in the serum. Our investigations revealed the following results: HBsAg and anti-HBs in the serum were of different subtypes. HBsAg in the serum and in the liver had the same subtype.