A novel immunoadsorbent: use for the preparation of monospecific antibodies to the hepatitis B antigen.

ABSTRACT

Controlled pore glass (CPG) adsorbs hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from whole plasma with a high degree of specificity. The resultant complex is stable at acid pH and in the presence of high concentrations of sodium thiocyanate. The adsorbed HBsAg is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the soluble material in its ability to bind antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The HBsAg in 1 ml of strongly reactive plasma is adsorbed by 100 mg of CPG, which can then specifically bind 32,000 passive hemagglutination units of anti-HBs. Bound antibody can be eluted in 77% yield by acid or by chaotropic ions and the CPG-HBsAg complex can be reused in further adsorption-elution cycles. Antibody to HBsAg can be purified 144-fold in a single step by using this technique. The preparation of monospecific subtyping reagents for HBsAg and of immunochemically purified anti-HBs is described.