A Human Monoclonal IgG1λ Anti‐Hepatitis B Surface Antibody

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Abstract
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a donor with a high litre of anti‐hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibodies were fused with a cell line that was positive for Epstein‐Barr virus nuclear antigen and sensitive to hypoxanthine‐aminopterine‐thymidine. A cell line was established that produces a monoclonal IgG1λ anti‐HBs antibody. Afterwards, it appeared that the anti‐HBs antibody‐producing cell line had arisen from Epstein‐Barr virus transformation of the donor B cells. The cell line is capable of producing up to 60 μg/ml of the monoclonal antibody, which has a high avidity for HBs antigen (Ag) and recognizes both ad and ay subtypes. The antibody is useful as a reagent for the detection of HBsAg in human serum. Over 1000 patient sera have been tested with a conventional third‐generation assay in parallel, and only a single discrepant serum was found.