title: Comparative study of simple semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Two simple, commercially available and semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests, namely, the Acarex test(®) and Mitey Checker(®), were compared using 2 and 10 μg of Der 1 allergen per gram of dust, as evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to clarify which method is better suited for practical use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mite allergen exposure levels of 106 floor, bed and sofa surfaces were evaluated by the Acarex test(®), Mitey Checker(®), and ELISA. A template of 100 cm×100cm was placed on the same surfaces to identify the examined areas. A dust collection filter was attached to a vacuum cleaner, and the area in the template (1 m(2)) was vacuumed. Then, to evaluate the other two tests, samples from the two other areas in the template (1 m(2)) that neighbored each other and did not overlap were vacuumed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To predict Der 1 levels of 2 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test(®) were 100% and 13.3%, and those, of Mitey Checker(®) were 91.8% and 71.1%, respectively. To predict Der 1 levels of 10 μg/g dust or higher, the sensitivity and specificity of the Acarex test(®) were 50.0% and 96.2%, and those of Mitey Checker(®) were 85.7% and 79.5%, respectively. Compared with Der 1<2.0, 2.0-9.9.≥10.0 (μg/g dust), the percent agreement and kappa of the Acarex test(®) were 47.2% and 0.234, and those of Mitey Checker(®) were 70.0% and 0.505, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To evaluate mite allergen exposure level for practical use in Japanese living environments, Mitey Checker(®) is better than the Acarex test(®) because of its higher sensitivity and specificity.
authors: Department of Health Science, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka, E2-1-1-1 Asahikawa, 078-8510, Hokkaido, Japan, y-saijo@asahikawa-med.ac.jp.
authors: Yasuaki
authors: Y
authors: Saijo
authors: Yoshihiko
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authors: Nakagi
authors: Yoshihiko
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authors: Sugioka
authors: Toshihiro
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authors: Ito
authors: Hitoshi
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authors: Endo
authors: Hikaru
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authors: Kuroda
authors: Takahiko
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authors: Yoshida