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A rapid test for detection of mite allergens in homes
Author(s) -
Tsay A.,
Williams L.,
Mitchell E. B.,
Chapman M. D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2002.01533.x
Subject(s) - allergen , mite , asthma , medicine , aeroallergen , immunology , allergy , toxicology , biology , ecology
Summary Background International guidelines recommend allergen avoidance for asthma management, but do not include making assessments of allergen exposure. Mite allergen exposure cannot be assumed, especially in geographical regions where climatic conditions vary. Objective To develop a rapid test that would enable consumers to detect mite allergen in the home. Methods A lateral flow test using gold labelled antibody for mite group 2 allergen was developed as part of a detection kit incorporating the MITEST dust sampling device. Dust samples were assayed by ELISA for group 1 and group 2 allergens and by using the rapid test. The tests were compared as indices of mite allergen exposure. Results There was a good correlation between group 1 and group 2 levels by ELISA ( n = 349, r = 0.60, P < 0.001). In a multi‐centre study of 65 homes (263 dust samples) in five countries, there was a strong correlation between ELISA and the rapid test. Most samples with high scores in the test (43/48, 90%) contained > 1 µg/m 2 group 2 allergen, whereas most low samples contained < 1 µg/m 2 (50/64, 78%). Differences between mean group 2 levels of samples that scored low (0.28 µg/m 2 ), medium (1.68 µg/m 2 ) or high (3.18 µg/m 2 ) on the test were highly significant ( P 0.007 to < 0.001). Conclusions A simple rapid test has been developed that detects mite allergen in the home within 10 min. The mite screening test should educate consumers about allergen exposure and encourage compliance with allergen‐avoidance procedures. This technology has applications for the detection of other common environmental allergens.