Search Results

Formulation Concern – Thiomersal Some patients may be concerned about the presence of Thiomersal in allergen extracts. This is a mercury-containing preservative that was commonly used in childhood vaccines. It has recently been phased out as a routine preservative due to the potential negative health effects, such as

AU

tism. No allergen extracts contain Thiomersal. read more

Formulation Concern – Phenol Does phenol have a negative impact on extract stability? Many extracts contain phenol (0.4%) as a preservative. There have been some reports that phenol can impact the stability of allergenic extracts. However, more recent data has shown that phenol does not appear to have a significant impact on the long term… read more

Formulation Concern – Alum Does aluminum (alum) have a negative impact on patient health? Aluminum has been used as an adjuvant in numerous vaccines for over 70 years with no severe adverse effects reported. Despite suggestions, made decades ago, that alum may contribute to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological disorders, there has… read more

Diluents & Preservatives When making dilutions from the concentrate vial, a number of diluents can be used. Normal Saline with Phenol (NSP) NSP is the same solution that is used to extract Aqueous extracts. It is a buffered solution of sodium chloride (0.9%) with phenol (0.4%) as a preservative. NSP offers limited stability protection for… read more

Regional Panels An important decision for your practice will be the selection of allergenstobestockedinyourofficeforskintesting.Anappropriatediagnosticpanel willreflectnot onlytherelevantallergens inyourregion butalsothe unique profiles of patients who regularly visit your practice. Somepatients travel frequently or live in multiple locations. In these cases,significant allergens from each region the patient is exposed to should beconsidered. The number and diversity of allergens… read more

Warning indications Hyposensitization therapy is a treatment for patients exhibiting allergic reactions to seasonal pollens, dust mites, animal danders and various other inhalants in situations where the offending allergen cannot be avoided. Prior to initiation of therapy, the clinical sensitivity should be established by careful evaluation of the patient’s history confirmed by diagnostic skin testing.… read more

Importance of Cross-Reactivity Closely related allergen species often exhibit some degree of cross-reactivity. In general, plant species within the same taxonomic family may be substantially, though not completely, cross-reactive. Additionally, there are several allergenic proteins which are common across unrelated species known as “pan-allergens”. For some patients, these proteins can generate an IgE immune response… read more

Potency Labeling The biologic strength (potency) of an allergenic extract can be expressed in a variety of ways. In general, all allergenic extracts are divided into 2 categories: Standardized (B

AU

/

AU

) The FDA has mandated standardization testing for a limited number of extracts. The purpose of standardization is to minimize the amount of variability between… read more

Extract Formulations Allergen extracts are available in a variety of formulations. An extract’s formulation directly impacts the stability of the allergenic proteins in solution and therefore the shelf life of the product. The FDA has determined maximum expiration dates for each formulation based on the estimated loss of potency over time. All extracts can be… read more