Potency, sterility and immunogenicity of rabies tissue culture vaccine after reconstitution and refrigerated storage for 1 week

The economical Thai Red Cross intradermal (TRC-ID) post-exposure rabies treatment schedule is now widely used in Asia. However, directives from WHO and manufacturers mandated that the vaccine be used within 8 h after reconstitution of the freeze-dried product. This limits the use of TRC-ID to large animal bite clinics that see several rabies exposed patients daily. This study demonstrated that refrigerated purified chick embryo and Vero cell rabies vaccines can be stored safely for up to 7 days after reconstitution; allowing use of this treatment regimen in clinics that see few rabies exposed subjects. A large project applying this method in a Northern Thai canine rabies endemic province is now in place. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.