Ten inactivated vaccines containing one of four adjuvants and varying concentrations of pseudorabies virus (PRV) antigens were compared in order to select a vaccine suitable for commercial production. A genetically engineered strain of PRV lacking the gene coding for glycoprotein X (gpX) was used in these vaccines. Vaccinated pigs were challenged intranasally with virulent PRV to determine the efficacy of vaccines. Vaccination of pigs with one dose of experimental vaccines adjuvanted with 50% Montanide ISA 50 or 20% Syntrogen induced a protective immunity at least equal to that induced by two commercially available killed PRV vaccines also evaluated. An experimental vaccine containing 20% Syntrogen was selected and further evaluated according to United States Department of Agriculture licensing requirements. None of the pigs vaccinated with this vaccine produced gpX antibodies detectable by the HerdChek: Anti-PRV-gpX assay. Therefore, this assay could differentiate PRV vaccine induced antibodies from antibodies induced by natural exposure when used in conjunction with this killed gpX deleted PRV vaccine.