[Preliminary comparative results of the detection of hepatitis B antigen (HBAg) in the blood of mental patients, using several methods in common use].
Radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and latex agglutination (L-HHA) were compared in the detection of hepatitis B antigen in sera from 494 mental patients. Positivity was observed in 39 subjects (7.9%) with RIA, 14 (2.8%) with IEP, and 8 (1.6%) with L-HHA. The dilution titres noted with RIA were many times and significantly higher than those obtained with the other two methods. Antigen was again detected in over 50% of those subjects on whom it was possible to repeat the tests one year later. The advantages of RIA are stressed.