Stabilization of a diluted aqueous mite allergen preparation by addition of human serum albumin. An intracutaneous test study.

Stability of diluted Spectralgen Dermatophagoides farinae allergen preparations in phenol-saline with, and without human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied by intracutaneous tests in mite-allergic patients. The phenol-saline reconstituted mite allergen preparation lost activity to less than 1/10 of initial activity within 1 week, while mite allergen preparation reconstituted with solvent containing HSA was stable for at least 8 months after reconstitution. Human serum albumin probably prevents adsorption of allergens to glass surfaces which may be a problem for very diluted allergen preparations.