Collection of house dust for analysis of mite allergens. Allergen-reducing effect of a self-administered procedure.

To assess allergen-reducing effect of dust collection from mattresses, patients were asked to vacuum clean the entire surface of their mattresses for 5 min with their household cleaners at specified intervals ranging from 1-21 days. Ten patients performed four collections, nine patients only two. Amounts of dust, concentrations and amounts of major allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp42), Dermatophagoides microceras (Dm6), and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df6) were determined. The first sampling caused a statistically significant reduction in the absolute amounts of allergens in a following sample. The same tendency was seen in dust weight but not in concentrations of allergens. At intervals of 1 or 3 weeks no consistent changes could be registered. Differences were small and good reproducibility of the sampling and analysing procedure could be assumed. Since the self-administered procedure is much cheaper and easier to handle than sampling done by technicians with special equipment, it can be recommended for sequential analysis of allergen exposure.