The incidence and type of reactions to plain and adsorbed DTP vaccines.

The incidence and type of reactions after administration of plain and adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine were recorded in a blind controlled prospective study of 2041 vaccinations in 1075 infants receiving routine childhood immunization. There was no significant difference in the total incidence or type of general reactions after plain and adsorbed vaccine, but local reactions were significantly less frequent after plain vaccine. General reactions were recorded after 41.5% of vaccinations with plain vaccine and after 40.8% of vaccinations with adsorbed vaccine. Local reactions were reported in 66.7% and 76.5% of recipients respectively. The most commonly reported systemic reactions were irritability and fever. Three recipients of plain vaccine and one of adsorbed vaccine suffered hyporesponsiveness or collapse. One recipient of each vaccine suffered a convulsion. No persisting sequelae were recorded.

The Australian reference preparation of human serum immunoglobulins.

An Australian Reference Preparation of human serum immunoglobulins was prepared from pooled sera of 240 healthy, adult donors. The preparation was calibrated for IgG, IgA and IgM levels by radial immunodiffusion against the 1st International Reference Preparation of Human Serum Immunoglobulins G, A and M (IgG, IgA and IgM) and for IgE by PRIST against the 1st International Reference Preparation of Human Serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The following potency values were assigned to the Australian Reference Preparation designated ASPS 78-1 (Lyoph.): 100 IU/vial for IgG and IgE, 102 IU/vial for IgA and 114 IU/vial for IgM.