Bespoke latex allergen testing improves assessment of respiratory symptoms in textile-braiding workers

Background Latex allergy is poorly understood in latex‐exposed textile workers. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out to better characterize respiratory symptoms, using personal breathing zone latex allergen measurement and specific IgE to latex allergens. Results Forty‐four of the 86 (51% participation rate) participated. Ten of 39 workers who gave a blood sample (25.6%) were found to have IgE to at least one workplace allergen (5/39 positive to either latex braiding coated with silica or talc, 4/39 were positive to the dyed cotton extract, and 1/39 to latex braiding coated with silica or talc and dyed cotton extract), whilst only 2 of these 10 had specific IgE to the commercial latex extract. Conclusions The presence of symptoms with evidence of sensitization was strongly dictated by current latex exposure. Bespoke workplace allergen IgE testing identified cases of WR respiratory symptoms with sensitization that otherwise would not have been identified. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:616–623, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.