This article, published in Human Vaccines, reports on a study that aimed to characterize the immediate qualitative changes of hepatitis B vaccine caused by freeze exposure. The vaccine was subjected to freezing temperatures ranging from 0°C to -20°C for up to 3 episodes with durations ranging from 1 hour to 7 days. The vaccine was analyzed for freezing point, particle size distribution, tertiary structure, and in vitro and in vivo potency. Whether or not hepatitis B vaccine freezes was shown to be dependent on an array of factors including temperature, rate of temperature change, duration of exposure, supercooling effects, and vibration.

Author(s): Chen D, Tyagi A, Carpenter J, et al.

Published: 2009

Resource types: Peer-reviewed journal

Diseases: Hepatitis B

Topics: Disease/vaccine specific information; Vaccine stabilization

Regions: Global