An ELISA method using serum derived HDAg for the sorological detection of HDV antigens and antibodies

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Celso Granato, Edna Strauss, Ludmila Vitvitsky, Luiz Carlos da Costa Gayotto, Christian Trepo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 1987
• Subjects: Hepatitis; Hepatitis delta virus; Enzyme immuno assay; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Abbott; Arctic; Eia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46651987000600010; https://doaj.org/article/64cc442618dc4a2183d00729830bba64

One of the main difficulties related to the detection of the Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) antigen and antibody has been the source of the needed HD antigen since HDV containing human and animal livers are very difficult to obtain and since yield is low. This fact prompted us to try to use the serum of patients in the acute phase of HDV infection as a source of HDAg and turn to enzyme immunoassays (EIA) instead of RIA for the sake of easiness and economy in the amount of HDAg needed. The antigen for EIA was obtained from patients during the acute phase of HDV infection and the antibody from patients who have been carriers for many years. For the detection of the antigen, a sandwich type method was employed, whereas for the antibody a competition assay was developed. In order to assess the relative specificity and sensibility of the test, the antibody assay was compared to a commercial RIA (C. RIA, Abbott) and to a non-commercial RIA (NC RIA). Forty-two sera were tested by the two methods and only in two cases discrepant results were obtained. Its is concluded that: 1) sera from patients in the acute and chronic phases of HDV infection can be used as source of both antigen and antibody, for immunoassays; 2) EIA and RIA have comparable relative specificity and sensibility and 3) EIA is easier to perform, cheaper, non-hazardous, has a longer shelf-life and saves scarce HDAg.