The diagnostic performance of allergen-molecules in comparison to allergen-extracts

Linden, I.J.M. van der; Groot, M.J.M. de; Jong, N.C.C.M. de; Bozkurt, Z.; Cobbaert, C.M. (2012)

Article / Letter to editor

BACKGROUND:This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of naturally purified allergen-molecules compared to that of allergen-extracts for house dust mite, cat dander epithelium and dog dander. METHODS:In vitro tests for allergen-specific IgE were performed on the IMMULITE(®) 2000 in serum samples from 66 allergic patients. RESULTS:House dust mite: specificity for the allergen-extract (D1) and the allergen-molecules (nDer p 1, nDer f 1, nDer p 2 and nDer f 2) is comparable. The allergen-extract has a significantly higher sensitivity (100%) and total agreement (TA) (93%) relative to sensitivity (57%-70%) and TA (76%-81%) of the individual allergen-molecules. Cat dander epithelium: sensitivity (90%), specificity (96%) and TA (94%) of the allergen-molecule (nFel d 1) are comparable to those of the allergen-extract (E1). Dog dander: The allergen-molecule (nCan d 1) and allergen-extract (E5) have comparable specificity and TA. The allergen-extract has a lower sensitivity (52%) than the allergen-molecule (71%), although not significant (p=0.125). CONCLUSIONS:There is no diagnostic benefit of using allergen-molecules instead of allergen-extracts for initial allergy screening on cat dander epithelium and dog dander. However, use of these allergen-molecules might contribute to better standardization of the specific IgE tests. The studied allergen-molecules for house dust mite are of minor diagnostic value, because of loss of sensitivity.

• allergen-extracts
• allergen-molecules
• cat
• dog
• house dust mite

• All authors: Linden, I.J.M. van der; Groot, M.J.M. de; Jong, N.C.C.M. de; Bozkurt, Z.; Cobbaert, C.M.
• Date: 2012-12-31
• Journal: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 129 - 132