False-Positive Serum Hepatitis B Virus Antibodies and Galactomannan with Immunoglobulin Therapy

In a cross-sectional analysis, all patients had a positive HBV surface antibody and 41% had positive galactomannan results after at least 6 months of infusion.

Pooled plasma serves as the sources for immunoglobulin (IG) products. These products may contain antibodies and proteins that can cloud diagnosis and lead to inappropriate therapy. This is especially true for hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies and for the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for galactomannan (GM), used to screen for early invasive aspergillosis.

To explore this issue, researchers analyzed a cross section of 80 patients receiving either intravenous or subcutaneous IG at one hospital. Prior to therapy, nine patients had HBV surface antibody (HBV sAb) and one had an equivocal test for HBV core antibody (HBV cAb). After at least 6 months of IG therapy, all 79 tested positive for HBV sAb and 47 of 80 (59%) were either positive or equivocal …

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

False-Positive Serum Hepatitis B Virus Antibodies and Galactomannan with Immunoglobulin Therapy

Topics

Reviewing Author