[Testing the activity of anti-foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in cattle: quantitative methods of antigenic extinction]

Two methods of evaluating the activity of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine are compared, leading to the evaluation of the number of protective doses 50% or potency. These methods differ in sensitivity, precision and equivalence potency-percentage of protection. For the same vaccine the value of the PD50 is always larger than that of Pb. We chose the Pb method using a diluent containing no adjuvant. Standards based on the evaluation of average potency have not been taken into consideration; only those standards based on the evaluation of minimum potency ensure respect of OIE's recommendation. This recommendation: 70% minimum potency with 0.95 probability is not an easier alternative, since the average protection observed corresponds in fact to at least 90% taking into account the biological variability of bovines.