Optimization of critical factors affecting the performance of an allergen chip for the analysis of an allergen-specific human IgE in serum

Anal Sci. 2007 May;23(5):545-9. doi: 10.2116/analsci.23.545.

Abstract

A sensitive and multiplexed assay of allergen-specific human immunoglobulin E (IgE) is of great significance in the precise diagnosis of allergies. We report on the optimization of critical factors for chip-based analysis of IgE in human serum with a high reliability. Extracts of two mite species were used as model allergens, and were spotted onto a glass slide for the construction of an allergen chip. Respective allergen-specific IgE in human serum was analyzed by using biotinylated anti-human IgE and a streptavidin-Cy3 conjugate. Factors affecting the performance of the allergen chip were investigated and optimized. Especially, the effect of additives, the concentrations of biotinylated anti-human IgE and the streptavidin-Cy3 conjugate, the serum dilution factor, and the concentration of allergen extract as a capturing agent were examined in detail. Under the optimized conditions, a chip-based analysis for sera from 43 patients revealed a reliable and reproducible diagnosis of respective allergies, showing a good correlation with a conventional CAP assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology*
  • Protein Array Analysis / methods*
  • Pyroglyphidae / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Immunoglobulin E