Toward an in vitro test for the diagnosis of allergy to penicillins. Synthesis, characterization, and use of beta-lactam and beta-lactam metabolite poly-L-lysines which recognize human IgE antibodies

Conjugates of poly-L-lysine (PLL) containing a penicillin or a penicilloyl residue were prepared and characterized by H-1 NMR and by size-exclusion (S E) HPLC. These conjugates were used in a radio allergo sorbent tests (RAST) test for the determination of allergy toward beta-lactams. The chemiometri c evaluation of the data indicates that allergy to amoxycillin is different from allergy to the ether beta-lactams tested. Furthermore, careful chemic al characterization of the conjugates appears to be crucial to obtain meani ngful information from the RAST data.