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Sampling Devices for Indoor Allergen Exposure: Pros and Cons

  • Torie Grant
  • Ana M. Rule
  • Kirsten Koehler
  • Robert A. Wood
  • Elizabeth C. MatsuiEmail author
Allergens (R. K. Bush & S. Vieths, Section Editors)
First Online:
Part of the following topical collections:
  1. Topical Collection on Allergens

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review current indoor allergen sampling devices, including devices to measure allergen in reservoir and airborne dust, and personal sampling devices, with attention to sampling rationale and major indoor allergen size and characteristics.

Recent Findings

While reservoir dust vacuuming samples and airborne dust volumetric air sampling remain popular techniques, recent literature describes sampling using furnace filters and ion-charging devices, both which help to eliminate the need for trained staff; however, variable correlation with reservoir dust and volumetric air sampling has been described. Personal sampling devices include intra-nasal samples and personal volumetric air samples. While these devices may offer better estimates of breathable allergens, they are worn for short periods of time and can be cumbersome.

Summary

Reservoir dust sampling is inexpensive and is possible for families to perform. Airborne dust sampling can be more expensive and may better quantify cat, dog, and mouse allergen exposure. Personal sampling devices may offer a better representation of breathable air.

Keywords

Indoor allergen exposure Indoor allergen sampling Vacuum allergen sampling Allergen in settled dust Airborne allergen sampling Personal allergen samplers 
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

Dr. Matsui reports grants from Inspirotec outside the submitted work. Dr. Wood reports grants from NIAID, DBV, Astellas, Aimmune, Sanofi, Regeneron, and personal fees from Up to Date and AAAAI, outside the submitted work. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  • Torie Grant
    • 1
  • Ana M. Rule
    • 2
  • Kirsten Koehler
    • 2
  • Robert A. Wood
    • 1
  • Elizabeth C. Matsui
    • 3
    Email author
  1. 1.Division of Pediatric Allergy/ImmunologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUSA
  2. 2.Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public HealthJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUSA
  3. 3.Departments of Population Health and Pediatrics, Dell Medical SchoolThe University of Texas at AustinAustinUSA

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