Determination of DTaP vaccine potency by multiplex immunogenicity testing using electrochemiluminescence

Lot release testing of diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccines traditionally relied on in vivo protection models involving challenge of laboratory animals with toxins. Meanwhile, many labs have switched to serological testing of these vaccines, which is often performed in separate in vivo assays, even if all components were formulated into one vaccine product. Here we describe the results of simultaneous serological potency determination of diphtheria (D), tetanus (T) and acellular pertussis (aP) antigens obtained following immunization of guinea pigs with multicomponent pediatric and booster vaccines from different manufacturers. The 4th World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard (IS) for diphtheria toxoid (No. 07/216) and the 4th WHO IS for tetanus toxoid (No. 08/218) were used as reference preparations. For aP, a pediatric vaccine batch containing the antigens pertussis toxoid, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin and fimbriae proteins type 2/3 was established as internal control. Quantification of IgG against D, T and aP antigens in guinea pig sera was performed using a hexaplex electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. We further provide proof-of-concept using experimental vaccine samples lacking or containing reduced amounts of diphtheria toxoid in the presence of full amounts of tetanus and pertussis antigens and alum adjuvant. Importantly, the assay confirmed dose-response relationships for all antigens tested and was able to detect diphtheria out-of-specification batches. The results confirmed the suitability of the protocol for combined serology batch release testing of DTaP combination vaccines as first measure towards implementation of full in vitro testing of DTaP vaccines. This report summarizes the data and the protocol used for validation prior to implementation of this method in routine batch release testing of DTaP vaccines, which led to replacement of in vivo challenge experiments in our laboratory following the 3 R (replace, reduce, refine) principle.