A monoclonal-antibody enzyme immunoassay for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen with use of a biotin-avidin system.

In this solid-phase two-site enzyme immunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), three monoclonal anti-HBs are used: 5D3 (IgM) is immobilized on plastic beads; 5C3 (IgG2a) and 5C 11 (IgG1), labeled with biotin, are used as the first conjugate. Horseradish peroxidase covalently linked to avidin is the second conjugate. First, serum or plasma is incubated with the antibody-coated bead and biotin-labeled antibodies, simultaneously, at 45 degrees C for 1 h ("stat" procedure), 3 h ("standard" procedure), or 18 h ("overnight" procedure), during which HBsAg forms a complex with the solid-phase antibody and the biotinylated antibodies. The enzyme-conjugated avidin is then bound to the biotin on the antigen-antibody complex at 45 degrees C for 15 min ("stat") or 30 min (standard and overnight procedures). The beads are incubated with enzyme-substrate solution (H2O2 and o-phenylenediamine). Color developed is measured at 492 nm. All procedures satisfied third-generation HBsAg tests required by the FDA Office of Biologics, being sensitive both to ad and ay subtypes in subnanogram amounts. The assay is reactive with adw2, adw4, adr, ayw2, ayw3, and ayr subtypes and can detect viral determinants in HBsAg-anti-HBs immune complex form. Thus it provides a sensitive, simple, and reproducible alternative to radioimmunoassay.