TY - JOUR

T1 - Exposure chamber for allergen challenge

T2 - The development and validation of a new concept

AU - Rønborg, S. M.

AU - Mosbech, H.

AU - Johnsen, C. R.

AU - Poulsen, L. K.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - Exposure chambers have proven to be valuable tools in studying allergic diseases. The chamber provides a controlled environment and maintains conditions for measuring the amount of allergen inducing symptoms in allergic subjects. The aim of the present study was to develop and test an exposure chamber. The chamber was constructed as an airtight tent, made of transparent polyethylene, easy to adapt to the shape of an existing room, easy to clean, and providing exact allergen-dosage control. Airflow to the interior of the tent was controlled by a variable inlet ventilator fitted with a micropore filter and balanced by a variable high-volume air-sampler on the outlet side. Trace material and allergen were administered as aerosols with a nebulizer connected to the inlet pipe. Samples were obtained from interior surfaces and filters at the outlet. Two different methods were used to test the concept. One method used a colored, neutral trace substance (phenol red indicator) measured photometrically on extracts from filters. Secondly, house-dust mite allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) was applied, with samples analyzed by an ELISA technique. The results demonstrated the ability of the system to administer and sample allergen with a high degree of reproducibility. A clinical pilot trial proved the capability of the system to initiate symptoms in allergic subjects.

AB - Exposure chambers have proven to be valuable tools in studying allergic diseases. The chamber provides a controlled environment and maintains conditions for measuring the amount of allergen inducing symptoms in allergic subjects. The aim of the present study was to develop and test an exposure chamber. The chamber was constructed as an airtight tent, made of transparent polyethylene, easy to adapt to the shape of an existing room, easy to clean, and providing exact allergen-dosage control. Airflow to the interior of the tent was controlled by a variable inlet ventilator fitted with a micropore filter and balanced by a variable high-volume air-sampler on the outlet side. Trace material and allergen were administered as aerosols with a nebulizer connected to the inlet pipe. Samples were obtained from interior surfaces and filters at the outlet. Two different methods were used to test the concept. One method used a colored, neutral trace substance (phenol red indicator) measured photometrically on extracts from filters. Secondly, house-dust mite allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) was applied, with samples analyzed by an ELISA technique. The results demonstrated the ability of the system to administer and sample allergen with a high degree of reproducibility. A clinical pilot trial proved the capability of the system to initiate symptoms in allergic subjects.

KW - Aeroallergen analysis

KW - Aerosols

KW - Allergen challenge

KW - Allergy

KW - Exposure chamber

KW - House-dust mite

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029946674&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1996.tb04562.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1996.tb04562.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8738512

AN - SCOPUS:0029946674

VL - 51

SP - 82

EP - 88

JO - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

JF - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

SN - 0105-4538

IS - 2

ER -