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The antigenicity of natural rubber latex (NRL) products was discussed. NRL can be classified into three broad groups depending on the method of manufacture: coagulated (automobile and truck tires), extruded or injection molded (rubber threading, tubing, and baby bottle nipples) and dipped products (disposable medical gloves and condoms). Although only about 10 to 12% of the world's production of NRL is used to make dipped products, these products are widely used in the health care industry and are responsible for most of the allergic disorders seen in latex sensitized patients and health care workers. Most studies investigating antigen concentrations and their effects have used disposable medical gloves and condoms. A few studies have utilized rubber balloon medical catheters, anesthesia rebreathing bags, and toy balloons. The studies have shown that the allergen content of NRL products causing allergic reactions varied more than 3,000 fold around an arbitrary potency level of 100,000 allergen units per milliliter established by the Food and Drug Administration. The highest antigen concentrations were found in powdered medical gloves. Techniques for avoiding latex products were considered.
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, 15(1):61-70, 1995. (37 references)
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