Comparison of latex-specific IgE binding among nonammoniated latex, ammoniated latex, and latex glove allergenic extracts by ELISA and immunoblot inhibition

Background: Nonammoniated latex, ammoniated latex, and latex glove extracts have been used as source materials for the preparation of allergenic extracts for the diagnosis of latex allergy. These materials showed different patterns of protein bands and immunoreactive bands. However, their IgE-reactive repertoires were not compared. Objective: The goals of this study were to compare the IgE reactivity and to define the common IgE-reactive epitopes among three latex allergenic extracts. Methods: Two serum pools were obtained from adults and children with latex allergy to evaluate the IgE reactivity among three latex extracts. IgE reactivity and IgE-reactive proteins were compared by inhibition ELISA and inhibition immunoblot methods, respectively. Results: In this study inhibition curves were similar for nonammoniated latex and ammoniated latex but were different when the latex glove extracts were used. Several protein bands of ammoniated latex and latex glove extracts could not be inhibited by the nonammoniated latex. The ammoniated latex and latex glove extracts were able to remove all the latex-specific IgE from the serum. Conclusion: The IgE-reactive proteins differ among different latex extracts. Ammoniated latex and latex glove extracts contain more complete immunoreactive repertoires for detecting IgE antibodies. Our study provide useful information for selecting the latex extract.