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House Dust Greer Labs (Allergen Specific IgE)

House Dust (Greer Labs), House Dust, Greer Labs (h1)

Test Codes

Antrim #31385, EPIC: LAB10154, SOFT: EHDG

Department

Immunology

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube.

Twenty individual allergen assays or allergen screens can be performed on one 5 mL Gold-top SST tube. Each allergen assay requires 100 mcL of serum.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged collection tube within two hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged collection tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Plasma specimens.

Severely lipemic or hemolyzed specimens.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Room temperature is acceptable for a maximum of two hours.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 1 month

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Special Testing Laboratory

Performed

Monday – Friday.
Results available the next business day.

Reference Range

Allergy Reference Range: Less than 0.35 kU/L. 

Range (kU/L)	Class	Interpretation
Less than or equal to 0.34	0	Negative
0.35-0.69	1	Low
0.70-3.49	2	Medium
3.50-17.49	3	High
17.50-49.99	4	Very High
50.0-100.0	5	Very High
Greater than 100	6	Very High

Test Methodology

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA).

Interpretation

The allergen class may not be predictive of clinical disease in some patients. The diagnosis of allergy should be based upon patient history and clinical findings. The diagnosis of allergy should not be based upon laboratory findings alone.

Clinical Utility

A positive test result (class 1 or greater) is indicative of the presence of allergen-specific IgE and suggests an increased likelihood of allergic disease.

Clinical Disease

House dust is a mixture of potentially allergenic materials including fibers from several types of fabrics, cotton liners, feathers, other stuffing materials, bacteria, mold, fungus spores, food particles, human and pet dander, bits of plants and insects, and pet hair. Intense and lengthy exposure to organic dust may result in developing respiratory symptoms with irreversible physiologic changes. Symptoms that may develop include pulmonary fibrosis, progressive restrictive impairment, diffusion defect, hypoxemia, and a decreased lung function (1). Decreased flow rates, hyperinflation with greatly increased residual volume, decreased diffusing capacity, and a loss of pulmonary elastic recoil pressure (suggesting emphysema) have been found in physiologic studies of affected individuals. Allergic reactions to dust is a progressive disease. Treatment with corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and avoidance of allergen exposure (even for a prolonged time) is only minimally effective (1).

Reference

1. Kaplan, Allen P M.D. Allergy. Churchill Livingstone: New York, pg 536, 1985.

CPT Codes

86003
LOINC: 9828-5

Contacts

Last Updated

7/21/2024