[Clinical and immunological studies of an experimental series of vaccines against hepatitis B]

Two experimental lots of hepatitis B vaccine were prepared by purification of HBsAg from human plasma, inactivation at 100 degrees C for 2 min and at 37 degrees C for 72 hours with formalin in a concentration of 1:4000. The former lot comprises purified HBsAg (40 mg/ml) adsorbed with 0.32 mg % Al(OH)3, the latter consists of purified HBsAg stabilized with 0.1% human albumin and adsorbed with 1 mg% Al(OH)3. The immune response after vaccination with the first lot was observed in 54.54% of the vaccinees. The second vaccine after 3 administrations of 80 micrograms/ml each produced a very good primary and a very good secondary immune response. Both vaccines are nonreactogenic and well tolerated by the vaccinees.