Can colony-forming unit testing be used to extend the shelf life of BCG vaccines?

In this study, we assessed whether quantification of viable bacteria, could be used to inform the use of the BCG vaccine beyond its manufacturer-assigned expira tion date. The viability of a single batch of BCG-Denmark was tested in three independent laboratories. There was high inter-vial and inter-laboratory variability in viability counts, however all three laboratories detected a decrease in BCG viability over time.

Source: Tuberculosis - June 6, 2018 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Nicole L. Messina, Susie Germano, Rhian Bonnici, Lai-yang Lee, Andrew J. Daley, Andrea Bustamante, Peter Jelfs, Nigel Curtis Source Type: research