[Neutralizing virus antibodies in human immunoglobulins for intravenous use]

Neutralizing antibodies against measles, poliomyelitis, rubella, herpes simplex, influenza and vaccinia viruses were measured in batches of a representative selection of human immunoglobulins for intravenous use licensed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Rubella antibodies were also examined by haemagglutination-inhibition tests. Where available, reference preparations were used, and antibody levels expressed in I. U. All preparations contained significant amounts of the examined antibodies, with relatively low variation from one batch to the other. In most cases activity data specified by the manufacturers could be confirmed. However, differences between the various preparations were sometimes important, some of them relating mainly to individual antibodies, others more or less to the whole range. Some striking findings are emphasized with consideration of manufacturing and control problems.