Allergen-specific IgE Detection on Microarrays Using Rolling Circle Amplification: Correlation with in Vitro Assays for Serum IgE

Abstract

Allergen-specific IgE antibody in patient serum is used to predict an allergic response in individuals with concordant clinical history. For more than 30 years, in vitro assays for allergen-specific IgE have been used along with or in place of skin-prick allergen testing (SPT) (1). In vitro test methods include various immunoassay formats with solid-phase supports such as paper disks, microtiter plates, nitrocellulose, and microparticles. The field has advanced with immunoassay refinements, including solid phases with higher allergen-binding capacities, monoclonal antibodies for detection, enzyme amplification systems, and fluid-phase allergen/IgE complex formation; these have improved the sensitivity of the in vitro assays and provided better correlation to skin-prick allergen tests (2)(3)(4).