Distribution and characteristics of hepatitis B surface antigen in body fluids of institutionalized children and adults.

Specimens of blood, feces, urine, and nasopharyngeal washings collected at regular intervals from subjects in an institutionalized population were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and antibody by passive hemagglutination, radioimmunoassay, and immune electron microscopy. HB, Ag, confirmed by radioimmunoassay and immune electron microscopy, was frequently detected in nasal washings, urine, and feces of chronic carriers of HB, Ag and occasionally in subjects with recent seroconversion for HB, Ag. In addition, some subjects who had recently become positive for antibody to HB, Ag in serum had HB, Ag transiently present in urine and occasionally in the feces, without demonstrable antigenemia.