Thermal inactivation of diphtheria toxoid following drying by sublimation in vacuo

Abstract

The Lf values of diphtheria toxoid alone and in combination with tetanus toxoid or tetanus toxoid plus pertussis vaccine, dried by sublimation in vacuo, sealed under nitrogen, exposed to elevated temperature and rehydrated thereafter were not altered. Lf values declined in samples sealed under air. The values for Kf in the above preparations increased in relation to increased temperatures of exposure for a given time or following exposure to a given temperature for increased time intervals. The sensitivity of the system of testing used was greater following the addition of ‘helper’, a fast flocculating solution of diphtheria toxin, and in the case of dried diphtheria toxoid stored under adverse conditions (sealed under air) for two years, the addition of ‘helper’ was necessary to obtain a flocculation reaction. In general, the results obtained indicated a very high stability for preparations sealed under nitrogen, and a significantly lower stability for preparations sealed under air.