FITkit is an immunological test for measuring natural rubber
latex
Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well.
In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...
(NRL) allergens from a variety of rubber products, such as gloves.
Description
FITkit is a method for quantification of the major natural rubber latex (NRL) specific allergens: Hev b 1, Hev b 3, Hev b 5 and Hev b 6.02.
The sum of four major allergens shows the allergenic potential of NRL products like
glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves usually have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb.
If there is an opening but no (or a short) covering sheath for each finger they are called fingerless gloves. Fingerless glov ...
s,
condom
A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of in ...
s, teats, balloons, etc. These tests are based on the enzyme immunometric assay technique and use specific
monoclonal antibodies
A monoclonal antibody (mAb, more rarely called moAb) is an antibody produced from a cell Lineage made by cloning a unique white blood cell. All subsequent antibodies derived this way trace back to a unique parent cell.
Monoclonal antibodies ca ...
developed against the clinically relevant latex allergens present in NRL products.
FITkit is known also under scientific names EIA (
enzyme immunoassay An enzyme immunoassay is any of several immunoassay methods that use an enzyme bound to an antigen or antibody. These may include:
* Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
* Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT)
* Fluorescent enzyme ...
) or IEMA (immuno-enzymometric assay).
FITkit broschure
on Icosagen AS homepage. Retrieved 13 May 2009, (PDF file; 1.07 Mb)
The main value of FITkit technology is the focus only on those NRL allergens that are responsible for the majority of NRL sensitivity and allergy cases. Based on FITkit results, allergenicity potential of the tested product can be easily assessed.
FITkit technology is compliant with the ASTM International standar
FITkit is a trade mark of Icosagen AS (formerly Quattromed Ltd).
References
Cited references
General references
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External links
FITkit and latex allergen testing
offered by Icosagen AS.
See also
* Latex allergy
Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to the proteins present in natural rubber latex. It generally develops after repeated exposure to products containing natural rubber latex. When latex-containing medical de ...
* Monoclonal antibodies
A monoclonal antibody (mAb, more rarely called moAb) is an antibody produced from a cell Lineage made by cloning a unique white blood cell. All subsequent antibodies derived this way trace back to a unique parent cell.
Monoclonal antibodies ca ...
* Quattromed Ltd
Icosagen AS
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Immunology
Allergology
Immune system