Blumberg had identified Australia antigen, an important first step.
2.
In 1965, Sutnick joined Australia antigen ".
3.
They noted that it took several years for other scientists to show that what was initially called the Australia antigen was in fact the hepatitis B virus.
4.
Speaking of Alter's long research career at the time of the 2000 Lasker Award, Dr . Harvey Klein, chief of the Clinical Center Transfusion Medicine Department noted, " As a young research fellow, Dr . Alter co-discovered the Australia antigen, a key to detecting hepatitis B virus.