title: Bespoke latex allergen testing improves assessment of respiratory symptoms in textile-braiding workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latex allergy is poorly understood in latex-exposed textile workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out to better characterize respiratory symptoms, using personal breathing zone latex allergen measurement and specific IgE to latex allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four of the 86 (51% participation rate) participated. Ten of 39 workers who gave a blood sample (25.6%) were found to have IgE to at least one workplace allergen (5/39 positive to either latex braiding coated with silica or talc, 4/39 were positive to the dyed cotton extract, and 1/39 to latex braiding coated with silica or talc and dyed cotton extract), whilst only 2 of these 10 had specific IgE to the commercial latex extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of symptoms with evidence of sensitization was strongly dictated by current latex exposure. Bespoke workplace allergen IgE testing identified cases of WR respiratory symptoms with sensitization that otherwise would not have been identified.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Workplace Health, Health, Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harris-Roberts
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fishwick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013784:Textiles / Q000633:toxicity*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E