Abstract: The present invention discloses a screening test for detecting the presence of contaminating or infectious agents causing non-A, non-B hepatitis or AIDS in a blood donor setting. A kit for the detection of contaminating agents belonging to the group of retroviruses is also disclosed. Screening blood or blood related products so as to prevent spreading of infection or contamination due to retroviruses is now made possible by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an isolated and purified antigen specific to non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) causing agent. The utility of the antigen as a diagnostic serologic marker and as a screening device for detecting the carrier or source of non-A, non-B hepatitis or infective factor thereof, particularly in a blood bank or plasmapheresis setting and preventing transmission of NANBH by isolating the source is described. Use of the antigen as vaccine to induce protective antibodies capable of neutralizing NANBH infectivity is also disclosed. A kit for detecting the presence or identifying the carriers or sources of non-A, non-B hepatitis or causative agent thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a a vaccine effective for primates, such as chimpanzees, and against hepatitis B virus (HBV) using hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) made by recombinant DNA. Chimpanzees immunized with the vaccine were protected against hepatitis B.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) using purified hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). Chimpanzees immunized with the vaccine were protected against hepatitis B.

Abstract: A method of treating the agent of human non-A, non-B hepatitis to render it incapable of causing infection which comprises heating said agent at about 60.degree. C. for about 10 hours and recovering the treated protective agent. Furthermore, this treated agent may be utilized as a vaccine, as, for example, inoculating chimpanzees by i.v. inoculation with the heat treated non-A, non-B agent and the animals have been found protected from later challenge by non-A, non-B hepatitis agent. Thus, the second part of the invention resides in the utilization of a heat-treated agent from human plasma later utilized to protect chimpanzees by incoluation and utilization as a vaccine.

Abstract: In the detection of the highly transmittable agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis there is described a method utilizing antigen-antibody reaction and preferred counterelectrophoresis method for the detection of said antigen. This method may also be applied to producing a vaccine.

Abstract: In the detection of the highly transmittable agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis there is described a method utilizing antigen-antibody reaction and a preferred counterelectrophoresis method for the detection of said antigen. The method may be applied as in the recipients of blood transfusions and also may be applied to screening blood donors where the blood donor had transmitted by transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis antigen several years previously or there was at least a 1-5 year retrospective period from donating blood to retention of active transmittable agent.

Abstract: The utilization of hepatitis B immune globulin as a preparation for preventing transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) by injectable biologics, by incubation of the injectable biologics and hepatitis B immune globulin together in vitro prior to administration to patient. The hepatitis B immune globulin is utilized in a dosage of 5 ml and in a preferred titer of 1 to 100,000. The titer may vary to a range of 1 to 100 concentration with an intermediate range of 1 to 1,000 ranging down to 1 to 100,000. Also there may be used other immune globulins such as immune serum globulin (ISG).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of inactivating a non-A, non-B hepatitis agent by means of formalin utilized in extended treatment. The range of formalin treatment utilizes a concentration of 1:1,000-1:10,000, preferred 1:1,000, and the duration of treatment is from 24-120 hours at any temperature with a preferred 96 hours (4 days) at 37.degree..+-.4.degree. C. This formalin-treated or otherwise inactivated agent, or portions of the agent, may be later used to produce a vaccine against non-A, non-B hepatitis.