Development and pre-validation of a quantitative multi-dose serological assay for potency testing of inactivated rabies vaccines for human use

Abstract

It is mandatory to ensure the quality of biological products used in the prevention of rabies, a zoonosis with nearly 100% lethality. Fifteen million people receive post-exposure prophylaxis yearly. The vaccine batches are assessed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) test which has several disadvantages such as significant variability and animal welfare issues. The estimation of immunogenicity based on titration of neutralizing antibodies (NA) is not applied to the human vaccine yet. Despite this, a satisfactory concentration of NA (0.5 IU/ml) can be used as a predictor of the clinical efficacy and for estimating rabies vaccine potency. The objective of this study was to develop and pre-validate a Serological Potency Test (SPT) using the modified Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (mRFFIT) to determine the potency of rabies vaccines for human use, demonstrating its relevance and reliability. The results show good agreement between the potencies determined by the SPT and the NIH test. The assay was able to distinguish between potent and sub-potent lots of vaccines. The results demonstrated that SPT is a viable candidate for validation and inclusion in pharmacopeias as a reduction and refinement for the NIH test.