title: Four methods of sampling for dust mite allergen: differences in 'dust'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measurement of exposure to the dust mite allergen Der p 1 is important in asthma research and is potentially useful in managing asthma. As no single measure can capture all characteristics of an exposure, it is important to recognize differences in the available methods of measuring exposure to Der p 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen bedrooms and living rooms were sampled using four methods for 1 week. Airborne allergen was sampled by static Institute of Occupational Medicine samplers. Settling dust was collected on Petri dishes and an adhesive-membrane system (A-book). Vacuumed reservoir dust samples were collected from floors at the end of 1 week. Der p 1 was measured in all samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, except A-books, in which it was measured by Halogen immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four methods intercorrelated moderately (r range = 0.40-0.64, P = 0.04), except between allergen in reservoir dust (as microg/m2 and microg/g dust) and settling dust by Petri dishes (P = 0.2). Reservoir allergen, expressed as microg/m2, did not correlate with any measure, except reservoir allergen expressed as microg/g (r = 0.39, P = 0.04). No differences in these associations occurred between bedrooms and living rooms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the four methods examined correlated moderately, all have practical advantages and difficulties. No method can be considered as ideal for measuring individual exposure. For practicality, use of vacuum cleaner and Petri dish methods are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Tovey
authors.forename: T Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Mitakakis
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sercombe
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Vanlaar
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004391:Dust