Environmental allergen analyses

Abstract

Environmental specimens (dust) from indoor home, school, and work-place environments can be evaluated for the content of aeroallergens produced by dust mite, cat, dog, cockroach, and molds, as a means of determining exposure risk and facilitating avoidance therapy. This article examines the variables that influence the levels of these allergens in indoor environments, methods for sampling, clinical laboratory assays used for testing, and interpretation of aeroallergen results for making decisions about remediation.