NON-A, NON-B HEPATITIS ASSAY AND VACCINE

摘要

A newly discovered particle in the urine and serum of non-A, non-B hepatitis patients has been associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis. The particle resembles a togavirus and is 50-60 nm in diameter with a discrete core of about 40 nm in diameter. The virus loses its infectivity for tissue culture upon heating at 25 DEG C. in aqueous suspension or by exposure to ether. The particle may be cultured in vitro or recovered from body fluids or tissues to make immunoassays and vaccines. The immunoassays may be employed to detect the particle antigens or antibodies thereto in test samples.