BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the removal of allergens by laundry washing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the dynamics of the removal of mite allergen (Der p 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) from bed dust during simulated laundry processes. METHODS: Three studies were performed. The first compared combinations of 4 laundry agents (water alone, soap, detergent with enzymes, and detergent without enzymes), 4 temperatures (15 degrees, 25 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees C), and 3 extraction times (5, 20, and 60 minutes). The second study examined allergen extraction by 11 common brands of detergents at 25 degrees and 45 degrees C for 5 minutes. The third study compared 4 detergents containing enzymes before and after the denaturation of their enzymes. To measure the quantity of allergens extracted, each study used an ELISA assay as well as a more sensitive but semiquantitative Halogen immunoassay to detect any allergens remaining after the simulated laundry extraction. RESULTS: Study 1 showed that detergents extracted more of both Fel d 1 and Der p 1 than either soap or water alone and that almost all allergens were extracted within 5 minutes at 25 degrees. However, washing at 60 degrees C extracted slightly more Fel d 1 and denatured Der p 1, resulting in lower residual amounts of both allergens. Study 2 showed that all of the commercial detergents performed similarly. Study 3 showed that the presence of enzymes in detergent formulations did not produce a significant effect on the extraction of allergens. CONCLUSION: Using detergent solutions at 25 degrees for at least 5 minutes was sufficient to extract most mite and cat allergen from dust of bedding.
BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the removal of allergens by laundry washing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the dynamics of the removal of mite allergen (Der p 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) from bed dust during simulated laundry processes. METHODS: Three studies were performed. The first compared combinations of 4 laundry agents (water alone, soap, detergent with enzymes, and detergent without enzymes), 4 temperatures (15 degrees, 25 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees C), and 3 extraction times (5, 20, and 60 minutes). The second study examined allergen extraction by 11 common brands of detergents at 25 degrees and 45 degrees C for 5 minutes. The third study compared 4 detergents containing enzymes before and after the denaturation of their enzymes. To measure the quantity of allergens extracted, each study used an ELISA assay as well as a more sensitive but semiquantitative Halogen immunoassay to detect any allergens remaining after the simulated laundry extraction. RESULTS: Study 1 showed that detergents extracted more of both Fel d 1 and Der p 1 than either soap or water alone and that almost all allergens were extracted within 5 minutes at 25 degrees. However, washing at 60 degrees C extracted slightly more Fel d 1 and denatured Der p 1, resulting in lower residual amounts of both allergens. Study 2 showed that all of the commercial detergents performed similarly. Study 3 showed that the presence of enzymes in detergent formulations did not produce a significant effect on the extraction of allergens. CONCLUSION: Using detergent solutions at 25 degrees for at least 5 minutes was sufficient to extract most mite and cat allergen from dust of bedding.
Authors: Jay Portnoy; Jeffrey D Miller; P Brock Williams; Ginger L Chew; J David Miller; Fares Zaitoun; Wanda Phipatanakul; Kevin Kennedy; Charles Barnes; Carl Grimes; Désirée Larenas-Linnemann; James Sublett; David Bernstein; Joann Blessing-Moore; David Khan; David Lang; Richard Nicklas; John Oppenheimer; Christopher Randolph; Diane Schuller; Sheldon Spector; Stephen A Tilles; Dana Wallace Journal: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 6.347