Studies on the loss of infectivity of live type 3 poliovaccine on storage.

The Children's Vaccine Initiative established a Product Development Group in 1991 to help in the development of oral poliovaccines of improved thermostability. Under the auspices of this group, the effect of different stabilizers on the loss of infectivity of commercial monovalent type 3 live poliovaccine bulks at 37 degrees C, 42 degrees C and 45 degrees C has been examined. The only effective conditions were the maintenance of the pH at 6.5, and the use of deuterium oxide at a concentration of 90%. All other additives, including detergents, albumin, antiviral compounds, sucrose and magnesium chloride, alone or in combination either had no effect or increased the rate of loss of infectivity.