DETECTION OF IGE ANTIBODIES TO LATEX ALLERGENS IN HUMAN SERUM

Reports indicate increasing incidence of Type I allergic reactions to latex allergens. The proteins that act as allergens and produce such a llergic reactions are found in the natural latex sap of Hevea brasilie nsis. All those who are exposed to latex products, particularly health care workers, are potentially at risk. The lack of qualified allergen extracts makes it difficult to perform skin testing on individuals who are at high risk. Therefore, a reliable in vitro test system for the detection of IgE antibodies to latex would be of considerable utility. We have developed a serological test for the qualitative determinatio n of specific IgE antibodies to latex. In our study, 75 sera from indi viduals with a history of latex allergy and 29 serum samples from heal thcare workers were tested by both radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme i mmunoassay (EIA). The allergen bound to paper discs was the same solid phase for the RIA and EIA assays. The allergen preparation used for c oating the paper discs was a mixture of proteins obtained from raw lat ex. The data show a good correlation between the results of RIA and EI A methods with data obtained using an RIA assay at an independent labo ratory and by skin prick testing. Comparing the performance of our tes t using our latex material with that of the latex material obtained fr om the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with results of other tests including skin tests, we found that the specificity and sensiti vity of our assay method approaches 100%. The data show no significant cross-reactivity between latex and banana. A low Level of cross-react ivity between latex and avocado was observed. We conclude that, by usi ng correct selection of proteins, the detection of specific IgE to lat ex may be a valuable assay method for screening individuals and for th e diagnosis of allergy to latex.