title: Seroconversion rate following measles vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the seroconversion rate following measles vaccination in Sri Lankan children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunisation clinic, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo (LRHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  134 infants who attended the LRHC for measles vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and post-vaccination blood samples were collected and serum was tested for the presence of anti-measles 1gG antibodies using the ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 134 infants only 102 were brought for the post-vaccination sample. Of these 102 samples, 101 were negative for anti-measles antibodies before vaccination. Of the 101 sero-negative samples 94 became sero-positive 6 to 8 weeks after vaccination. These results indicate that the seroconversion rate is 93.06%, which is similar to the results of studies done in other countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most infants are susceptible to measles infection by the age of 9 months, and it is appropriate to vaccinate infants at this age, as is the practice at present. However, further studies are needed to assess the duration of protection with a single dose of measles vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunawardena
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bandaranayake
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral