title: Measurement of Dermatophagoides mite allergens on bedding and human skin surfaces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The level of the Dermatophagoides mite group 1 (Der 1) allergens in reservoir dust has been used as an index of exposure in most studies. However, the mite allergen level in reservoir dust cannot directly reflect the personal exposure level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to develop a new method for quantifying the Der 1 allergens on bedding and human skin surfaces as an index of exposure to mite allergens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were obtained with a small adhesive tape from the forearm skin of 30 healthy volunteers and from their regularly used mattresses. The level of Der 1 allergens collected onto the adhesive tape was measured by a newly developed sensitive fluorometric ELISA for Der p 1 and Der f 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Der 1 allergens could be detected in all the samples from bedding surfaces and in 28 of the 30 samples from skin surfaces. The Der 1 levels by adhesive tape sampling from the mattresses correlated with those by reservoir dust sampling. The sampling of the skin and bedding surface with adhesive tape correlated, but skin sampling did not correlate with reservoir sampling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Der 1 allergens on bedding surfaces and on human skin surfaces could be quantified with a very simple sampling technique. The system developed in this study will provide a new tool for the assessment of mite allergen exposure in daily life.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Sagamihara Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan. yasuedah@sagamihara.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasueda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kutsuwada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D001513:Beds; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1