Monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis BS antigen: Production, characterization, and use for diagnosis

Three different hybridoma clones secreting anti-HBsAg antibody were constru cted by fusing cells of mouse myeloma line Ag8-X63 with splenocytes from BA LB/c mice immunized with recombinant HBsAg and natural HBV. The monoclonal antibodies obtained were characterized immunologically, and two were used t o develop UMELISA for detection of HBsAg. This monoclonal assay enabled the detection of 0.1 UPE/mL with reference to the standard of the Paul Ehrlich Institute (Frankfurt, Germany). The assay compared well with a commerciall y available kit (UMELISA HBsAg) and was used for detection of HBsAg in bloo d donors.