Immunologically active peptides or polypeptides with a partial amino-acid sequence of the capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 of parvovirus B19 which permit tests to be carried out at low cost, sensitively and specifically for the determination of antibodies against human parvovirus B19 are made available. Short peptide sequences which, employed as antigen, serve to identify anti-B19 IgG-positive sera are identified. Furthermore, the production of these peptides using genetic engineering measures is disclosed. Other antigens which are produced by genetic engineering and which can be stably produced in a high yield in E.coli and subsequently purified therefrom are used as additional antigens for IgG detection. Finally, a set of antigens permits tests to be carried out to determine IgM antibodies against the virus. In addition, the components, produced by genetic engineering, of the surface proteins represent substances which can be used for prophylactic immunisation.