Production of Rubella Complement Fixing Antigen in BHK-21 Cells. ∗

Discussion and summary

The assays for antibodies to rubella virus are time consuming and complicated by the lack of simple and accurate indicator systems. The recent development of rubella CF antigen in RK-13 and AGMK cells(2) as well as in BHK-21 cells (1) made it possible to measure complement fixing antibodies quickly and accurately in a well standardized system(7). However, whereas RK-13 and AGMK cells had to be concentrated over 200-fold (30% cell suspension) to yield antigen titers of 1/8(2), BHK-21 cells required only 20-fold concentration (3-4% cell suspension) to produce similar titers without anticomplementary complications.

The production procedure described here resulted in improved antigen yields of consistently high titers sufficient to carry out reproducible, highly satisfactory tests for complement fixing antibodies to rubella, Peak antigen titers were preceded by the appearance of cytopathic effect and acidification of the maintenance medium. The antigen produced by this procedure reduced the costs of production sufficiently to make the complement fixation test a diagnostic tool feasible for use in epidemiological studies of rubella infections and for evaluation of immunogenic properties of future rubella vaccines.