Flow cytometric measurement of immunoglobulin E to natural latex proteins.

Immediate hypersensitivity to natural latex (NL) occurs in sensitized individuals after repeated exposure to products or devices containing NL components. Since allergic reactions to NL proteins are quite frequent and may be quite serious, diagnostic assays are needed to identify individuals at risk. A number of latex proteins have been considered the major antigens, but they have been incompletely characterized. There is no standard material available for skin testing. In vitro diagnostic tests, such as the radioallergosorbent test (RAST), are time consuming and their sensitivity and specificity remain to be proven. We have developed a rapid microsphere-based, fluorescence-activated flow cytometry assay for the measurement of NL protein-specific human immunoglobulin E and have compared it with both the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioallergosorbent test methods. By using the total purified NL protein fraction isolated from raw ammoniated NL sap as the antigen, the flow cytometry assay was both sensitive and specific for the detection of NL protein-specific human immunoglobulin E in the sera of sensitized pediatric patients.