Media elaborated with newly synthesized antibodies (mensa) and uses thereof

A method of assessing the efficacy of a vaccine against a disease or toxin in a subject comprising obtaining PBMC or whole blood from the subject between 3 and 45 days following administration of a vaccine;

• separating plasma from the whole blood or PBMC to produce separated cells;
• isolating the newly proliferated ASC from the separated cells;
• washing the newly proliferated ASC;
• culturing the newly proliferated ASC in media conducive to antibody production and expression (MENSA), measuring the number of vaccine specific antibody secreting cells (ASC) or antibodies in the MENSA, and comparing the number of ASC or antibodies to a standard or control, wherein the washed ASC comprise at least a 106 or 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC, and wherein an increase of vaccine specific ASC or antibodies in the MENSA relative to a standard or control indicates an efficacious vaccine.