Coincident Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Antibodies of Different Subtypes in Human Serum

Abstract

Three patients with simultaneously detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in their sera were studied for subtypes of HBsAg and anti-HBs. In each case anti-HBs was found to be directed to a different subtype than that of the circulating HBsAg, indicating that reinfection (or simultaneous infection) with a second subtype occurred.