Patent ID: 8137680

Claim:
A process for analysing the saccharide content of a composition, wherein: (a) the composition comprises a capsular saccharide from serogroup C of Neisseria meningitidis and one or both of: (i) a capsular saccharide from serogroup W135 of Neisseria meningitidis ; and/or (ii) a capsular saccharide from serogroup Y of Neisseria Meningitidis ; (b) the process comprises a step of analysing the sialic acid content of the composition, and: (i) if the composition includes a serogroup W135 saccharide, a step of analysing the galactose content of the composition; (ii) if the composition includes a serogroup Y saccharide, a step of analysing the glucose content of the composition; (c) if the composition includes a serogroup W135 saccharide, the content of serogroup W135 saccharide in the composition is determined according to the results of the galactose analysis from step (b); (d) if the composition includes a serogroup Y saccharide, the content of serogroup Y saccharide in the composition is determined according to the results of the glucose analysis from step (b); and (e) the content of serogroup C saccharide in the composition is accurately determined by: (i) if the composition includes a serogroup W135 saccharide but not a serogroup Y saccharide, subtracting the galactose content of the composition from step (b) from the sialic acid content of the composition from step (b), to determine the content of serogroup C saccharide in the composition; (ii) if the composition includes a serogroup Y saccharide but not a serogroup W135 saccharide, subtracting the glucose content of the composition from step (b) from the sialic acid content of the composition from step (b), to determine the content of serogroup C saccharide in the composition; or (iii) if the composition includes both a serogroup W135 saccharide and a serogroup Y saccharide, subtracting the combined glucose and galactose content of the composition from step (b) from the sialic acid content of the composition from step (b), to determine the content of serogroup C saccharide in the composition.