The use of suspension cultures for FMD vaccine production. Criteria for the evaluation of cells, virus and vaccine.

A survey of problems connected with the cell suspension culture for the production of FMD vaccine is presented, in order to stimulate a discussion. Introductory remarks are made on the following topics: 1) suspension cell lines used for FMD vaccine production, 2) terminology, 3) criteria for the characterization of a cell culture, 4) evaluation of FMD virus produced according to the cell suspension technique and correlation existing between in vitro tests and antigenicity in domestic animals, 5) criteria which must be met by FMD vaccine produced from virus cultivated on cell suspension.