Detection of airborne natural rubber latex by immunoelectrophoresis, RAST inhibition, and immunospot method.

Occupational dermal and respiratory allergies caused by natural rubber latex (NRL) have been encountered with increasing frequency in health care workers. In order to measure the amount of airborne NRL, area and personal air sampling was performed in three hospital laboratories where workers used latex gloves. The total dust levels in laboratory air samples were lower than 0.17 mg/m3. RAST inhibition suggested that NRL antigens may exist both in the area and personal samples. Immunospot measurements, rocket immunoelectroporesis, and rocket radioimmunoelectrophoresis did not show any NRL activities in laboratory airsamples, although they were able to detect immunoactive material in positive control filter specimens. We conclude that the airborne NRL concentration was undetectable in daily hospital laboratory environment where workers used disposable NRL gloves. Airborne NRL, however, can be measured by using immunological assays.