Allergen Quantification by Use of Electrostatic Dust Collectors (EDCs): Influence of Deployment Time, Extraction Buffer, and Storage Conditions on the Results

Sampling of endotoxin, beta-glucan, or allergens on electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs) is a convenient method for exposure assessment. However, especially for allergens few experiments on validation of this method concerning deployment time or storage and extraction procedure have been performed. The aim of study was to optimize the EDC procedure for sampling of allergens in indoor environments. EDCs were placed in households or day-care centers and after extraction, allergens were quantified by six immunoassays detecting mite antigens (Domestic mites DM, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Dp, Tyrophagus putrescentiae Tp) or the main allergens from cat (Fel d 1), dog (Can f 1) and mouse (Mus m 1). For 20 EDC holders, deployment times of cloths were varied between 7 and 28 days, 36 EDCs were used to test reproducibility, and for 28 EDCs extraction buffers were varied (with or without 0.05% Tween 20, borate, or phosphate buffer). The influence of storage of cloths at room temperature (2–629 days) or extracts at –80°C (7–639 days), and variation of extract storage temperature (–20°C and –80°C) for long time storage (1.5 years) on the outcome of allergen quantification were tested for about 150 EDCs. The allergens on EDC cloths increased proportionally with deployment time, and allergen loads on parallel sampled tissues were significantly correlated (P < 0.0001, Pearson of log-transformed values 0.91–0.99). Extraction without Tween reduced all results (P < 0.0001, –51% DM, –85% Dp, –60% Tp, –99% Fel d 1, –86% Can f 1, –52% Mus m 1), and borate buffer resulted in lower yields of Mus m 1 (–53%), DP (–45%), and Tp (–27%) than phosphate buffer. Storage of cloths at room temperature significantly decreased Can f 1 levels (P < 0.0001, –4.8% loss for every 30 days), whereas storage of extracts at –80°C decreased DM results (P < 0.0001, –1.2% loss for every 30 days). Extracts stored at –20°C gave at mean 12% higher DM results compared to extracts stored at –80°C for 1.5 years. Several mammalian allergens and also DM antigens could be quantified reproducibly on EDCs from indoor environments. Allergen levels on EDC cloths increased proportionally with deployment time in a period of 4 weeks. Allergen yields are strongly influenced by the extraction procedure; the use of detergent Tween 20 and phosphate buffer is recommended.

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