Comparison of neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody responses for evaluating the seasonal influenza vaccine

Evaluation of the efficacy of influenza vaccines is essential for vaccine development. This study evaluated the neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibition antibody response in subjects receiving the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasonal influenza vaccines. ELISA-based microneutralization demonstrated a greater mean-fold increase and seroconversion rate than the hemagglutination-inhibition assay. The increase in the antibody titers against influenza H1 were higher than those against influenza H3 and influenza B, indicating that the H1 vaccine strain in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons was more immunogenic. These data suggest that the neutralizing antibody response is a better measurement of influenza vaccine efficacy.

► Antibody responses were used for evaluating influenza vaccine efficacy.
► NT-ELISA demonstrated greater mean-fold increase and seroconversion rate than HI.
► Neutralizing antibody response as more indicative of influenza vaccine efficacy.