Polyclonal antisera to birch pollen allergen for the air allergen screening

The cross reactivity of the pollen allergens of birch (Betula pendula), hazel (Corylus avelana), alder (Alnus glutinosa), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), oak (Quercus robur) and ashtree (Fraxinus excelsior) was studied by the methods of the enzyme immunoassay and gel diffusion with the use of rabbit polyclonal antisera (PAS) prepared against birch pollen allergen. PAS was shown to be greatly related to all above-mentioned allergens with the exception of oak pollen allergen. PAS was found capable of forming precipitates in the layer of agar gel only with birch pollen allergen. A proposal was made to use PAS, in view of the established specific features of its immunochemical properties, in the development of test systems for the ecological monitoring of biotopes.