title: Immunologic, spectrophotometric and nucleic acid based methods for the detection and quantification of airborne pollen.
abstract: Microscopic identification of pollen morphological phenotypes has been the traditional method used to identify and quantify pollen collected by air monitoring stations worldwide. Although this method has enabled a semi-standardized approach for the assessment of pollen exposure, limitations including labor intensiveness, required expertise, examiner bias, and the inability to differentiate species, genera, and in some cases families have limited data derived from the these stations. Recent advances in chemical, biochemical and molecular detection methods have provided standardized alternatives to this microscopic approach. In this review, we examine the applicability of alternative methodologies, in particular nucleic acid based assays involving the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, for the standardized detection of airborne pollen.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Rittenour
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Beezhold
authors.forename: Brett J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens