HBsAg and HBsAb in carriers and their families.

: Relatives of 98 Au antigen carriers were examined (positivity by AUSRIA II-125), already donors at the Immunotransfusion Centre of Trieste General Hospitals, totalling 106 cases: 98 out of same were represented by their wives and children, older than 7 years. 8 of the wives were HB,sAg (8.2%) positive and 90 negative: children were all antigen negative. In wives and children the presence of eventual anti-HBsAg antibodies by means of AUSAb technique (Abbott) was investigated obtaining 29 positive (29.3%) and 69 negative sera. With Dr. Lacy's (Abbott Diagnostic Division) collaboration the typing of HBsAg and HBsAb found was performed in order to obtaine epidemiological informations.