Korean J Lab Med.  2003 Dec;23(6):411-414.

Evaluation of the Usefulness of Kobias HBsAg and Anti-HBs

• Park J
• Rheem I
• Yoon DY
• Lim JS
• Kim JW

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The analysis of serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a useful tool for the prevention and diagnosis of HBV infection. In this work, we evaluated a newly improved domestic rapid assay, Kobias HBsAg and anti-HBs Window kits (Kobias, Korea) for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs in serum. METHODS: A total of 360 sera screened by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Enzygnost, DADE Behring, Germany) were included in this study. Each specimen was tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs by Kobias Window kits and Genedia Rapid device (Green Cross, Korea), conventional one step test kits. The results were compared with those of EIA. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of Kobias HBsAg were 99.2% and 96.7%, and those of Kobias Anti-HBs were 95.8% and 96.7%, respectively. The concordance rates between EIA and Kobias HBsAg and Kobias Anti-HBs were 98.3% and 96.1%, and those between Kobias kits and Genedia kits for HBsAg and anti-HBs were 97.8% and 93.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Kobias HBsAg/Anti-HBs kits are simple, rapid, and low-cost methods for detecting HBsAg and anti-HBs. With comparable results with EIA, the Kobias HBsAg/Anti-HBs kits could be suitable for screening purposes or in emergency situations.

Keyword

HBsAg; Anti-HBs; Kobias(R) HBsAg; Kobias(R) Anti-HBs

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Emergencies
Exercise Test
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens*
Hepatitis B virus
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Mass Screening
Sensitivity and Specificity
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens