Filtration and immunoprecipitation in the elimination of DNA polymerase activity associated with bacterial contamination of sera positive for hepatitis B e antigen and its corresponding antibody

J Infect Dis. 1978 Oct;138(4):473-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/138.4.473.

Abstract

Samples of serum inoculated with Escherichia coli and serum that became contaminated with bacteria after exposure to a laboratory atmosphere demonstrated elevated DNA polymerase activity. The levels of activity were well within the range of values found in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive samples. The bacterial polymerase activity was markedly reduced by a single passage of serum samples through a 0.22-micron Millipore filter prior to analysis. Repeated filtration did not result in a substantial further decrease in polymerase activity. In sera that were heavily contamined with E. coli, however, filtration was not successful in reducing bacteria-associated polymerase activity to a base-line uncontaminated level. In such instances double antibody immunoprecipitation proved effective in elimination of bacterial activity. When bacterial contamination of serum samples is a possibility, specimens should be subjected to either Millipore filtration or immunoprecipitation prior to analysis, particularly when correlation of DNA polymerase activity with HBeAg and its corresponding antibody is attempted.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral*
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli
  • Filtration
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies*
  • Hepatitis B Antigens*
  • Humans
  • Staphylococcus
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Antigens
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase