Drugs as Allergens: An Immunoassay for Detecting IgE Antibodies to Cephalosporins

Abstract

A radioimmunoassay employing cephalothin linked to a solid phase has been developed for the detection of cephalosporin-reactive IgE antibodies. Direct binding and inhibition studies demonstrated allergenic cross-reactivity between cephalosporins and penicillins, and quantitative hapten inhibition experiments identified the 2-thiophene group, and particularly the attached methylene group, of cephalothin as an allergenic determinant.