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D. R. Howell, BSc, PhD; J. A. J. Barbara, MA, MSc, PhD, FIBiol
National Blood Transfusion Service London

JAMA. 1988;260(5):636-637.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Draelos et al¹ "postulated that a serologic response to hepatitis B vaccine may discriminate between the various diagnostic possibilities associated with an isolated anti-HBc [antibody to hepatitis B core antigen] pattern." They studied 14 individuals who tested positive for anti-HBc but negative for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and IgM anti-HBc. We suggest that antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) may be a useful marker.

At the North London Blood Transfusion Centre, where approximately 200 000 blood donations are tested annually for HBsAg, it is our routine policy to follow up those blood donors found to be HBsAg positive. Hence, we are able to document an example of a chronically infected individual with an HBsAg level that fell slowly until it became undetectable yet remained anti-HBc positive.

Report of a Case.—

A 19-year-old woman gave blood for the first . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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