title: A side-by-side comparison of sampling methods for settled, indoor allergens.
abstract: Exposure to indoor allergens is associated with asthma, but there is no standardized sampling method for measuring allergens. We compared the association of measured allergen exposure and serum-specific IgE levels and the precision of three sampling methods (Cyclone, Mighty Mite, and Readivac II) to identify a standardized sampling method for indoor allergens. A random sample of 72 children, 5 to 17 years old, with doctor-diagnosed asthma who lived in the same residence >or=2 years were enrolled. Composite, side by side floor samples were obtained with all three methods. Dust allergen concentrations and serum-specific IgE levels were measured for Der f I, Fel d I, and Bla g I. Mean allergen concentration did not differ significantly by sampling method. Cat allergen was significantly correlated with serum-specific IgE for Cyclone (P=0.003) and Mighty Mite (P=0.008), but only marginally for Readivac II (P=0.07). Dust mite allergen was significantly correlated with serum-specific IgE for Readivac II (P=0.02) and Cyclone (P=0.038), but not for Mighty Mite (P=0.12). Cockroach allergen was not correlated with serum-specific IgE for any sampling method. In multiple linear regression, cat allergen was associated with serum-specific IgE for Cyclone (P=0.007) and Mighty Mite (P=0.02), but not for Readivac II (P=0.06). In contrast, dust mite allergen was marginally associated with serum-specific IgE for Readivac II (P=0.07), but not for Mighty Mite (P=0.64) or Cyclone (P=0.27). The Cyclone and Mighty Mite were more precise than Readivac II for cat allergen, but there was no difference for dust mite allergen (P>0.05). No single method is superior for measurement of indoor allergens. In general, cat allergen collected with the Cyclone was a better predictor of serum-specific IgE levels to Fel d I, whereas dust mite allergen collected with the Readivac II was a better predictor of serum-specific IgE levels to Der f I.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Lead and Allergen Sampling Study with Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio 45229, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lanphear
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Menrath
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Decolongon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E