The RAST principle and the use of mixed-allergen RAST as a screening test for IgE-mediated allergies

Immunology of foods

Investigation of food sensitivity is difficult and often confusing. However, there are multiple articles in the literature which illustrate that food is absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract in an antigenic fashion and that the entire immune system is stimulated by these antigenic food particles. All four Gell and Coombs varieties of immunologic reactions have been demonstrated as causes of symptoms in patients. Test techniques are available for each of these immunologic reactions, as is treatment for their noxious effects.

Monoclonal antibodies to three distinct epitopes on human IgE: their use for determination of allergen-specific IgE

Three different monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against human immunoglobulin E have been obtained which specifically bind to human myeloma and polyclonal IgE. The antibodies showed high avidities for soluble IgE (0.7 X 10(9) to 3.3 X 10(9) M-1). These MAb defined three distinct epitopes on IgE. A mixture of these antibodies in combination with an 125I-labelled anti-mouse Kappa chain MAb has been used to measure allergen-specific IgE. This determination was performed by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay using allergen extracts coated to either chemically activated paper discs or to polyvinyl chloride wells. This method is 4-10 times more sensitive than other previously reported procedures. A similar technique has also been applied to detect individual allergens in immunoblots of allergen extracts.