Which procedure is routinely used for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) due to its high sensitivity?

The procedure that is routinely used for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) because of its high sensitivity is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA is a powerful and widely employed immunological technique that allows for the quantitative measurement of antigens, such as HBsAg, in a sample.

ELISA works through a series of steps that include coating a plate with antibodies specific to HBsAg, adding the sample, and then introducing detection antibodies linked to an enzyme. The enzyme reacts with a substrate to produce a measurable signal, often a color change, which correlates with the amount of antigen present. This method is particularly favored for its ability to detect low levels of HBsAg, thus making it highly sensitive for screening and diagnosing hepatitis B infection.

The other methods, while useful in various contexts, do not match the sensitivity and practicality of ELISA for HBsAg detection. For example, a Western blot is typically used for confirmation rather than initial screening, and immunofluorescence while useful, is more complex and less commonly used in clinical settings for routine screening compared to ELISA. A neutralization assay is usually applied in research settings rather than clinical diagnostics for HBsAg. Therefore, the EL