Abstract |
In vitro correlates of type 1 hypersensitivity to natural latex (NL) proteins continue to be limited by both sensitivity and specificity. Methods which have detection limits in the picogram range, namely, radioallergosorbent assays (RAST) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), are inadequate for the identification of NL hypersensitivity in certain at-risk groups, such as health care workers. A flow cytometry assay (FCA), previously shown to be comparable to RAST and ELISA in the identification of NL-sensitized pediatric patients with spina bifida, was compared with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in the evaluation of pediatric patients with spina bifida and NL-sensitized adult health care workers. As with RAST and ELISA, ECL is capable of detecting picogram amounts of specific analyte. The ECL assay detected NL-specific immunoglobulin E (NL- IgE) in three of six health care workers with strong histories of NL hypersensitivity. All six patients were negative by FCA. Further, 2 of 11 spina bifida patients found to be NL- IgE negative by FCA were NL- IgE positive by ECL. These findings suggest that in sensitivity the ECL assay is an improvement over the FCA for the identification of NL-sensitive individuals.
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Authors | L Kobrynski, L Tanimune, N A Pawlowski, S D Douglas, D E Campbell |
Journal | Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology
(Clin Diagn Lab Immunol)
Vol. 3
Issue 1
Pg. 42-6
(Jan 1996)
ISSN: 1071-412X [Print] United States |
PMID | 8770502
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antigens
- Latex
- Immunoglobulin E
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antigens
- Case-Control Studies
- Child
- Evaluation Studies as Topic
- Flow Cytometry
(methods, statistics & numerical data)
- Health Personnel
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity
(diagnosis, immunology)
- Immunoglobulin E
(analysis, blood)
- Latex
(adverse effects, immunology)
- Luminescent Measurements
- Microspheres
- Occupational Diseases
(immunology)
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Spinal Dysraphism
(immunology)
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