| Criteria | SPF | Germ Free |
|---|---|---|
| Susceptible to internal bacterial contamination | Yes (Typically 30% of eggs) | No |
| Risk of vaccine batch loss associated with contamination | Yes (Up to 30% of batches) | No |
| Financial Rationale | Poor | Compelling (ROI > 100%) |
| Bio-Security | Medium | High |
| Susceptible to disease epidemics (e.g. Avian Influenza) | Yes | No |
| Delay in identifying loss of SPF/Regulatory Compliant status | Yes | No |
| GMP Compliant | No | Yes |
| Suitability for high value, specialist use (Master Viral Seeds, PCC etc) | Low | High |
Germ Free eggs are microbiologically sterile – there are no bacterial contaminants of any species present.
Freedom of Germ Free eggs from bacteria is monitored on a daily basis and is an essential QC criterion before release of Germ Free eggs to customers. This Germ Free screening gives a rapid result of presence or absence of bacteria which is a major advantage over SPF eggs, where it takes weeks to get complete bacteriology results.
Viral Yield Advantage: Low interferon levels in germ free eggs increases viral yield per egg. This has many positive implications for productivity, reduced cost of vaccines, reduced carbon footprint and enhanced availability. Germ free eggs are a game changer for vaccine manufacture.
Other Advantages include:
- Superior Shell Quality
- Excellent egg fertility rates
- Delivered in our especially designed bespoke temperature controlled packaging to preserve the integrity of our Germ Free eggs.