The Hepatitis B Antigen and Antibody of Healthy Donors in a Farm Area

Abstract

Ausria ll-125 and Ausab were used for testing 1,000 sera from apparently healthy blood donors living in a geographically relatively isolated farm area in the northern part of Shikoku-island. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 2.1% of the donors. The prevalence of antibody to the antigen was 19%. A significant excess of the antigen carriers was detected among males and among donors aged 20-29 years. The frequency of detectable antibody against the antigen increased with advancing age. There was no significant differences in the prevalence of the antibody between males and females. Only 9 male donors were found to have elevated serum glutamyl-oxalacetic-transaminase level. Of these donors with elevated transaminase level, one was with positive antigen and five w ere with positive antibody.