Patent ID: 6156499
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G01N,Y02A,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for determining whether a subject has been vaccinated against hepatitis A virus or naturally infected with hepatitis A virus, said method comprising:(a) contacting a biological sample from said subject with HAV structural proteins under conditions which permit the formation of a complex between antibodies to the structural proteins and the structural proteins; and(b) contacting a sample which forms a complex in step (a) with HAV 3C proteinase under conditions which permit the formation of a complex between antibodies to the 3C proteinase and the 3C proteinase, wherein the detection of a complex between the antibodies to 3C proteinase and the 3C proteinase indicates that said subject has been naturally infected with hepatitis A virus and a failure to detect said complex indicates that the subject has been vaccinated against hepatitis A virus.