title: A rapid test for soy aeroallergens exposure assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Determining soy aeroallergens levels is extremely important in the assessment of health risks due to these airborne substances. Currently, soy aeroallergens exposure in the environment is monitored using enzyme immunoassays (EIA) which must be evaluated in a specialized laboratory by skilled personnel.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development and performance of a rapid immunochromatography assay for the detection of soy aeroallergens in environmental samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  A test strip using gold labeled anti-soy hull low molecular weight extract (SHLMWE) antibody for the rapid detection of soy aeroallergens in environmental samples was developed. One hundred nineteen airborne samples were analysed in parallel by the strip assay and the anti-SHLMWE sandwich EIA. The assay results were visually analysed by three independent observers who ranked samples as: -, + or ++. Strips were also scanned and analysed by densitometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rapid test detected a range of concentrations from 6.25 to 25 ng/mL. Agreement in strip assay interpretations between evaluators was substantial (Kappa = 0.63; CI 0.544-0.715). Visual interpretation also gave a good concordance with EIA results, with sensitivity ranging from 77.3 to 100 and specificity from 65 to 83.5 depending on the observer. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between densitometry results of strip assay and EIA determinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strip assay developed is rapid, simple, and sensitive and does not require expensive equipment or specific skills. It has considerable potential in the environmental monitoring field for screening soy aeroallergens levels in port cities where allergen measurements are not currently performed. Due to its simplicity, the test will improve the management of soy allergic patients by controlling environmental allergen exposure without the need for apparatus or skilled personnel.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Simon
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María-Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María-Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Untoria
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, de Fisiologia i d'Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) & Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Villalbí
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morell
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain ; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ollés
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity / Q000379:methods*; D003720:Densitometry; D017979:Gold Colloid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008970:Molecular Weight; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D017979:Gold Colloid; D030262:Soybean Proteins