title: Stability of specific IgE antibodies to common food and inhalant allergens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimum storage temperature for serum allergen specific IgE antibodies (sIgE) to common food and inhalant allergens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient sera with sIgE concentrations ≥0.7kIUA/l were pooled accordingly: pool 1-peanut and hazelnut, pool 2-egg white, cow's milk and cod fish, pool 3-soy, wheat and shrimp and pool 4-dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae, dog dander, cat dander, Timothy grass pollen, and silver birch pollen. Aliquots stored frozen, refrigerated and at room temperature were tested in duplicate (Phadia ImmunoCAP® 250) over two weeks. The relative difference was calculated for each sIgE as a percentage of the initial value and compared to the analytical reference change value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Minimal effects on specimen stability were noted for all sIgE analyzed under the three storage conditions tested in this study. All changes observed in sIgE concentrations were related to the assay variability and not to sample deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum allergen specific IgE concentrations are stable at all temperatures studied for up to 17days.
authors.affiliation: DynaLIFE(DX) Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: karina.capote@dynalifedx.com.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Capote
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Kareena L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schnabl
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Oana R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Maries
authors.affiliation: DynaLIFE(DX) Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janzen
authors.affiliation: DynaLIFE(DX) Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Trefor N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergen specific IgE antibodies; Allergy testing; Specimen stability; sIgE