1337. Development, Maintenance, and Application of Opsonophagocytic Assays to Measure Functional Antibody Responses to Support a 20 Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

BACKGROUND: Opsonophagocytic assays (OPAs) are an important tool for assessing vaccine-induced functional antibody responses. OPAs are complex assays composed of many biological components (eg serum, complement sources, bacteria, and human phagocytes) which contribute to assay variability and may result in titer drift if not carefully controlled. Rigorous development and validation coupled with routine monitoring of assay performance are required to ensure that high-quality OPA serological data are consistently generated throughout the lifetime of existing and next-generation pneumococcal vaccines. METHODS: OPA specificity was demonstrated by competing functional antibody activity with pneumococcal polysaccharides. Assay qualification/validation assessed accuracy, precision, and sample linearity. Assay performance over time was assessed through the implementation of quality control serum data tracking systems and longterm serum proficiency panels that are routinely tested during assay performance. Human quality control sera are included on each assay plate to ensure that each plate meets pre-specified acceptance criteria. Proficiency serum panels are comprised of individual human serum samples derived from subjects immunized with pneumococcal vaccines and are used to monitor performance across a range of serological titers and over time. RESULTS: The OPAs were shown to be specific and reproducible. Monitoring of assay performance over time demonstrated that the assays are stable. For the 13 serotypes contained in 13vPnC reliable titers have been generated in over a decade of testing which is an essential prerequisite in the evaluation of next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines such as 20vPnC, whose licensure depends on demonstration of non-inferiority to 13vPnC. CONCLUSION: Maintenance and careful monitoring of high-quality assays to measure functional antibody responses, such as OPAs, is critical for the delivery of reliable serological data to support the advancement of pneumococcal vaccine programs. Pneumococcal OPAs must be rigorously maintained to ensure continuity of serological data over time and inform licensure decisions of next-generation vaccines as well as postmarketing and seroepidemiology studies. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.