Detection of hepatitis B surface protein by means of laser spectroscopy

Abstract

Summary form only given. In a patient infected with Hepatitis B (HBV), the infected host cells replicate the entire virus and also the surface protein of the virus, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Because the HBsAg is present in greater concentrations than the actual virus in infected blood, it is used as the marker of choice for identifying patients with this disease. The purpose of our experiment was to detect small concentrations of purified HBsAg in a buffered salt solution. Such possibilities could be provided by means of optical spectroscopy which includes laser-induced self-luminescence and Raman spectroscopy. Luminescence spectroscopy under selective laser excitation is a very sensitive method to determine the presence and concentration of proteins in solutions.