Demonstration of Infectious Hepatitis Virus in Presymptomatic Period after Transfer by Transfusion.∗

Abstract

Summary

A transfusion of blood from an individual in the incipient stage of infectious hepatitis elicited the first symptoms in the recipient after 11 days and jaundice after 21 days.

By subcutaneous inoculation of human volunteers the virus was demonstrated in the serum of the recipient on the eighth day after transfusion which was 3 days before the first symptoms and 13 days before the onset of jaundice. Virus was also demonstrated in another specimen of serum taken 6 days later, or 3 days after first symptoms.

The incubation period as measured by the onset of jaundice in the 4 subjects who had definite illness was 42 to 47 days, while the clinical response varied greatly in severity.

The significance of the results is discussed.