Hepatitis B Antigens: Separation of Two Populations Differing in Particle Size Distribution

Summary Addition of polyethylene glycol 6000 to sera containing hepatitis B antigen (HBAg) at neutral pH resulted in the precipitation of the 42 nm diameter spherical particles and of the tubular forms of HBAg with most of the 20 nm diameter spherical particles remaining in solution. This procedure may serve as a first step in the purification of the distinct morphologic forms of HBAg.