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QI
IMMUNOLOGICALS
In the ATCvet classification system the main group QI comprises immunologicals
for veterinary use, including, vaccines, immune sera and immunoglobulins. The
ATCvet group QI has been created to accomodate killed or attenuated
microorganisms (bacteria, virus etc.), antigenic proteins derived from them, or
synthetic constructs. Vaccines are used for the prevention, amelioration, or
treatment of infectious diseases. In addition the classification in group QI enables
products to be classified according to species. The main group QI has been in use
since January 2000. Earlier, vaccines were classified in QJ57, and immune sera and
immunoglobulins in QJ56.
Immunologicals indicated for use in several species are classified according to the
species regarded as the main one for prophylaxis. For example, monovalent
vaccines against rabies are assigned to QI07 - Canidae. However, rabies antigens
combined with other components might be classified under other main-group
species.
If it is not possible to decide the main species for the vaccine a ranking of main
species should be performed according to the sequence of species in the ATCvet QI
2 nd levels. A species with a low number in the sequence of ATCvet code should
then have precedence over a species with a higher number (e.g. sheep (QI04) has
precedence over horse (QI05)).
Non-specific immunostimulating agents are classified in the 4th level group X -
Other immunologicals, under whichever main group is considered most relevant.
Other immunologicals, e.g. interferons and cytokines, are assigned to
QL03 - Immunostimulants.
As far as possible, products are classified consistently on the basis of the agents
involved, but to make the system easy to use, sometimes both the agent and the
name of the disease are given.
Both for individual antigens and for combinations of antigens, any number from 1-
99 may be used as a 5th level code. Unlike combinations of substances other than
immunologicals, specific 5th level code series (i.e. 20, 30, 50 or 99) are not
reserved for combinations of antigens in group QI.
Bacterial antigens are only identified at the genus level, apart from Clostridium and
Vibrio antigens.
At the 4th level, all immunologicals are classified according to a specific structure.
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