[Stability and immunogenicity of the fresh BCG vaccine applied with a new multiple puncture device (author's transl)]

A new multiple puncture instrument with interchangeable pieces has been devised. It permits the application of 12 or 28 cutaneous punctures, depending on the age of the patient (child). Fresh concentrated (50 mg/ml) BCG vaccine was distributed either into neutral glass ampoules or into neutral polypropylene tubes. No difference in viability was observed after storage at 4 degrees C and in a series of 10 batches of vaccine, a good survival (about 50%) was found after three months. Also, survival was identical among 9 batches of vaccine, whether it was resuspended in a protective solution containing human albumin plus 5% glycerol or in 6% glycerol only. The immunogenicity of the fresh concentrated vaccine, when applied with the new multiple puncture device, was studied using different tests: --the growth of BCG in organs of mice, --the survival time after virulent challenge of vaccinated versus unvaccinated mice, --tuberculin-delayed hypersensitivity of vaccinated guinea-pigs. The immunogenic potency has been found similar to that observed using other methods of BCG vaccination. These experimental results confirm the merit of the new method of vaccination using the multiple puncture device.