WHO discussion on the improvement of the quality control of BCG vaccines

The evolution of BCG strains and the diversity of strains used for production of currently licensed vaccines as well as a need to explore their potential impact on efficacy and safety of BCG vaccines in humans have been considered at previous WHO meetings, held over the last few years (1,2). As recommended by a WHO working group in December 2004, a meeting to review assays for 1) genetic characterization of BCG strains and 2) quality control of BCG vaccines, established at the Institute Pasteur, was convened. The meeting was opened by Dr I Knezevic, Quality Assurance and Safety of Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, who summarized the background of the meeting and its objectives in the context of the revision of WHO requirements for production and control of BCG vaccines. The meeting was hosted by Dr Gilles Marchal, Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria of the Institute Pasteur. The list of participants is included in the annex of this report.