[Subtype characteristics of the surface antigen of hepatitis B in different regions of the USSR]. / Podtipovaia kharakteristika poverkhnostnogo antigena gepatita B v razlichnykh raionakh SSSR.

A method of preparation of subtypical antisera to two determinants of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs Ag/ay and anti-HBs Ag/ad) is described. The test system obtained was approbated on 1400 antigen-positive sera collected from blood donors and patients suffering from acute and chronic virus hepatitis in various geographical zones of the USSR. HBs Ag/ay proved to prevail (84--100%), HBs Ag/ad was distributed irregularly--from 16% in the European part of the USSR to 0--4% in the republics of the Middle Asia and Siberian regions. HBs Ag/ad was mostly determined in the population of Western regions of the European part of the USSR (the Baltic republics, 43.4%, Moldavia 24.3%).