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The authors discuss possible detection of HBsAg with regards to demands of the transplantation programme. They compared the sensitivity of HBsAg detection by ELISA on kits of various firms, using a panel of sera previously examined by the RIA technique. The most sensitive and most rapid answer on the presence of a surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus by the ELISA technique can be obtained using a Wellozyme kit of Wellcome Diagnostics Co., i.e. within 60 minutes. The firm must, however, equip the kits with double volumes of positive and negative controls.

The authors submit information on the presence and titre of antibodies against antigens of the hepatitis B virus [HB] and the Czechoslovak specific anti-HBs immunoglobulin, HEPAGA, and on the presence of the delta-antibody. The presence of the antibody against the surface antigen of the HB virus [HBsAb, anti-HBs] was examined in 32 batches, the antibody against the nucleus of the HB virus [HBcAb] and e-antigen [HBeAb] in a total of 27 batches. HBsAb was positive in the majority of cases still when diluted 1/2,500,000; HBcAb when diluted in the range from 1/25,000 to 1/2,500,000; the positivity of HBcAb ended with the exception of one batch at the dilution of 1/250. The delta antibody was detected only in batches from 1982 and 1983, in a maximum dilution of 1/8. All examinations were made by the radioimmunoassay [RIA] technique. The authors give also an account of the assessment of the international HEPAGA [IU/ml]. The last batch has 170 IU/ml.

This study describes the interaction of molybdenum with blood components. Molybdenum-99 was added to blood, and after four washings, 3% of the total radioactivity was found in red cells. More specifically, the radioactivity was determined to be associated with the cell membrane.Molybdenum-99 in the +VI form did not interact with the human erythrocyte membrane; however, Mo(V) forms did interact. Of five different compounds, the highes uptake was observed with a brown Mo(V)-ascorbate complex generated from Mo(VI) and ascorbic acid in the molar ratio 1∶20. A membrane suspension of Mo-ascorbate-treated human erythrocytes was prepared and the solubilized proteins were separated on a polyacrylamide gel in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Molybdenum-99 binding to spectrin was demonstrated, as well as some minor interactions with membrane hemoglobin and bands 6 and 8.

The interaction of 99Mo with red cell membrane proteins was found specific for spectrin both in normal red cells and those of hereditary spherocytosis. In addition, no significant quantitative differences were observed in labeling patterns between these two types of red cells, thus indicating no major alterations in the spectrin molecules of hereditary spherocytosis.

The radioactive labeling of spectrin using the pentavalent complex of molybdenum-99 was applied to the study of membrane protein in pyruvate kinase deficient red cells. Compared to the control, the labeling profile of the enzymopathic red cell membrane proteins remained generally unchanged but the molybdenum uptake was found to depend largely on the reticulocyte count. This finding may reflect changes during the cell maturation.