The Application of the PASA System in the Field of Allergy Diagnosis

Abstract

An increasing number of patients are suffering from allergies such as hey fever, asthma or food aller-gies. Since 1967, when the radio-allergo-sorbent assay (RAST) for serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific antibodies in serum was described, many various assay procedures have been developed, but only a few have become routine methods in clinical chemistry, immunologic laborato-ries or in doctor´s offices. Many of these assays are based on ELISA techniques. Although it is possible to measure 96 samples with one microtiter plate, a complete determination of the allergen-specific IgE level in the patients serum is expensive and time-consuming. In addition, to measure n allergen-specific IgE antibodies the n-fold volume of serum sample is needed. Even if mixtures of dif-ferent allergens in one assay are used, the single components have to be broken down after a positive test result. Therefore, it is important to develop a fast and economic screening technology for the al-lergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum samples. Miniaturization of the test system can be achieved either using 384/1536 instead of 96-well microtiter plates in combination with robot systems or by transferring the test on a planar surface using micro spotting techniques and the PASA system. The aim of the study is to examine the suitability of the PASA system (parallel affinity sensor array) for highly parallel screening of allergen-specific IgE anti-bodies.