The Collection Kit
"If patients who have asthma are exposed to irritants or
inhalant allergens to which they are sensitive, their asthma symptoms
may increase and precipitate an asthma exacerbation. Substantially
reducing exposure to these factors may reduce inflammation, symptoms,
and need for medication….Recognition and treatment of these conditions
may improve asthma control."
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, United States Department of Health and Human Services in October 2007
The Indoor Air Quality experts at National Jewish HealthTM
have done a detailed analysis of the key indoor pollutants. After much
review of the medical literature, we determined that our focus needed to
be on those pollutants that had the greatest impact on health.
The
Family Air CareTM Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit was designed to be
a way to survey your home for the key allergens that impact your
breathing health. We wanted to start by measuring the levels of the
most important allergy and asthma triggers including mold, pet dander
dust mites and cockroaches.
Developers of the Kit
The Family Air CareTM Indoor Allergens and
Mold Test Kit was developed by the allergy experts at National Jewish
HealthTM. Our mold test was developed in
conjunction with Roche, one of the world’s leading research-focused
healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
Our Allergen tests were developed with Indoor Biotechnologies one of
the leading manufacturers of allergen test kits.
Simple to Use
The Family Air Care® Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit is designed to be simple to use. It comes with a DuststreamTM collector,
a special attachment that works with your vacuum cleaner to pick up
samples of airborne allergens in your home. Once you sample the two
areas in your home identified in the instructions, you will
seal the DuststreamTM collector with the
black plugs enclosed, place it in the plastic bag and the
postage-paid mailer provided, and mail the sample back to National
Jewish HealthTM Advanced Diagnostics
Laboratories for laboratory testing and expert analysis. You’ll get a
detailed report back of the findings.
The Ad Hoc Working Group on Environmental Allergens and Asthma* from
the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology endorses the
National Asthma Education Program asthma management guidelines, which
recommend that every patient with persistent asthma be evaluated for
environmental allergen sensitivity and that patients who have
sensitivities receive practical advice on allergen avoidance.
Exposure to a variety of allergens, including those from molds,
pets and insects, have been associated with allergic symptoms in some
individuals. These symptoms may include cough, sneezing, runny nose,
eye irritation, and nose or throat irritation. Outdoor allergens from
grasses, trees, weeds, molds and pollens, may cause similar symptoms
but typically have more seasonal variation than do allergens present
indoors.
The Science Behind the Kit
