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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Measurement of the potency of allergen extracts by the radioallergosorbent test. Final report, 1 April 1977-31 March 1979

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5405266

A method using radio labelled staphylococcal protein A for the measurement of specific IgG antibodies has been established. This assay is superior to anti-globulin type assays for IgG antibody and does not require purified allergens as does the radio immuno precipitation procedure. Several modifications of the enzyme-linked-immuno-assay for specific IgE antibody have been studied, but this procedure has proven inferior to the conventional RAST assay. RAST technology has been used to isolate and partially characterize purified allergens from Russian thistle pollen and peanuts and has aided in the isolation of a purified Alternaria allergen with a molecular weight of about 30,000. An investigation has been carried out of the possible role of human dander as an allergen. But it was found that human dander and house dust extracts do not share common allergens. An assay has been established for IgE and IgG antibodies to mellitin. It was found that bee keepers have significant elevations in serum IgG antibody to mellitin but that relatively few other people exhibit elevated serum IgE antibody to this substance.

Research Organization:
Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN (USA)
OSTI ID:
5405266
Report Number(s):
PB-81-139842
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English