The effect of sunlight is one of the most important factors effecting maintenance of efficacy of B.C.G. vaccine. Between 1952 and 1963 the following reports were published (3,4,5,7,10,12,13) Edwards in 1952(7) and Lee in 1956 (3) described the variations in tuberculin allergy under two conditions stating that in Summer a remarkably weaker tuberculin reaction was observed, and that on rainy day it was storonger than on fine days to tile viability of B.C.G vaccine, this study was concerned with the effect of certain of these factors, under exposed direct and indirect sun-light. In the comparative
studies on protection of B.C.G. viable counts were conducted on black paper wrapped ampoules, on brown ampoules and on clear glass ampoules. We were also conducted a study for the comparison of B.C.G. ampoules stored on ice and not on ice during exposure to to Sunlight in Seoul, Korea. In this experiment 33-44 million viable units of B.C.G. vaccine 1㏄ per c.c., Prepared at B.C.G. Laboratory, Seoul, were used. And the results under the diffuse day-light subject, on the Korean liquid B.C.G. vaccine viability obtained as follows:
1. In clear glass ampoules exposed to sunlight, the viable units were decreased by 25% in one hour, by 50% in 2 hours, and no living bacteria were found after exposing 3 to 4 hours. In brown ampoules exposed to Sunlight, the viable unit were decreased by 25% in one hour, by approximately 50% in 2-3 hour, and 1000 colonies per c.c., or no living B.C.G. were found after 4-5 hours.
2. Clear and brown ampoules exposed to sunlight and placed oil ice, in a given time, twice as many viable units were observed in the brown ampoules as compared with the clear ampoules. When the ampoules were placed on the ice, slightly higher viable counts were observed as compared with the ampoules not placed on the ice.
3. In brown and black paper wrapped clear ampoules living B.C.G. were observed after 6hours of exposure to the sunlight. However, in clear ampoules living B.C.G. were observed up to 4 hours only.
4. Under the room light, no significant difference was observed between the brown and the clear ampoules.
5. In an in-door sunlight, the effect on the viable counts was same as in direct sunlight both in brown and in clear ampoules.
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