4 WEED MIX- amaranthus retroflexus pollen, chenopodium album pollen, plantago lanceolata pollen and xanthium strumarium pollen injection, solution
9 TREE MIX- acer saccharum pollen, alnus rhombifolia pollen, betula lenta pollen, carya ovata pollen, fraxinus americana pollen, platanus occidentalis pollen, populus alba pollen, quercus alba pollen and ulmus crassifolia pollen injection, solution
BIRCH MIX- betula nigra pollen and betula populifolia pollen injection, solution
HICKORY/ PECAN MIX- carya illinoinensis pollen and carya ovata pollen injection, solution
MAPLE/BOX ELDER- acer negundo pollen and acer saccharum pollen injection, solution
MAPLE MIX- acer negundo pollen and acer rubrum pollen injection, solution
MIXED COCKROACH- blatella germanica and periplaneta americana injection, solution
MIXED FEATHERS- anas platyrhynchos feather, anser anser feather and gallus gallus feather injection, solution
MIXED WEEDS- chenopodium album pollen, iva annua pollen, plantago lanceolata pollen and xanthium strumarium var. canadense pollen injection, solution
OAK MIX- quercus alba pollen, quercus rubra pollen and quercus virginiana pollen injection, solution
SALIX NIGRA POLLEN- willow black injection, solution
MOSQUITO- culix pipiens injection, solution
DANDELION- taraxacum officinale pollen injection, solution
NETTLE- urtica dioica pollen injection, solution
SHORT RAGWEED- ambrosia artemisiifolia injection, solution
ALK-Abello, Inc.
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This product is intended for use by physicians who are experienced in the administration of allergenic extracts and the emergency care of anaphylaxis, or for use under the guidance of an allergy specialist.
As with all allergenic extracts, severe systemic reactions may occur. In certain individuals these life-threatening reactions may result in death. Fatalities associated with skin testing have been reported. Patients should be observed for at least 20 - 30 minutes following testing. Emergency measures and adequately trained personnel should be immediately available in the event of a life-threatening reaction.
Patients with unstable asthma or steroid dependent asthmatics and patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are at greater risk to a fatal outcome from a systemic allergic reaction.
Sensitive patients may experience severe anaphlactic reactions resulting in respiratory obstruction, shock, coma and/or death. Adverse events are to be reported to MedWatch (1-800-FDA-1088), Adverse Event Reporting, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787. This product should not be injected intravenously. Patients receiving beta blockers may not be responsive to epinephrine or inhaled bronchodilators. Respiratory obstruction not responding to parenteral or inhaled bronchodilators may require theophylline, oxygen, intubation and the use of life support systems. Parenteral fluid and/or plasma expanders may be utilized for the treatment of shock. Adrenocorticosteroids may be administered parenterally or intravenously. Refer to WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE REACTIONS sections below.
Sterile diagnostic extracts are supplied in either phenol-saline diluent for Intradermal Testing or in diluent containing glycerin 50% (v/v) for Percutaneous Testing and phenol 0.4% (preservative). Inactive ingredients may include: sodium chloride for isotonicity, glycerin, and sodium bicarbonate as a buffer.
Pollens are individually extracted from pure pollen extracted in a phenol-preserved sodium bicarbonate solution. Short Ragweed and Mixed (Tall and Short) Ragweed extracts are standardized by Antigen E content and so labeled. The Antigen E content of extracts containing Short Ragweed at a concentration more dilute than a weight/volume ratio of 1:10 are obtained by calculating the Antigen E content based on the assay value of more concentrated extract. Pollen extracts are filtered aseptically and after final packaging, they are tested for sterility and safety. Molds are individually extracted from pure powdered inactivated mold source material extracted in phenol preserved saline. Mold extracts are filtered aseptically and after final packaging are tested for sterility and safety.
Molds (fungi) are present in all inhabited places at all seasons of the year; they are so ubiquitous that they are prevalent at times when common allergic pollens and other inhalants are not. In the home and surroundings, molds are found in upholstered furniture, mattresses, drapes, cellar and storage room dust, woolens, leather goods, fruits, meats, cheeses, garden soil and on plants. Spores, mycelial fragments and mold residues are thus inhaled, contacted and ingested continuously.
Foods, miscellaneous inhalants and epidermals are individually extracted in phenol preserved saline or glycerin, filtered aseptically and after final packaging are tested for sterility and safety.
Diagnostically (for skin testing) the allergen combines with IgE antibodies fixed to mast cells in the skin. This complexing causes an increase in cellular permeability and degranulation of the mast cells releasing chemical mediators. These mediators (such as histamine) are responsible for a local inflammatory response of wheal and erythema typical of a positive skin test reaction and also, the symptoms commonly associated with allergic disease.1 The more mediator release, the larger the reaction (wheal and erythema).
These products are for diagnostic use only. Diagnostic allergenic extracts are indicated for use in skin testing to establish the clinical relevance of specific allergens to which the patient has been exposed. By measuring skin test response, the physician may assess the degree of sensitivity that patients have to the allergens. For extracts standardized in AU and BAU, see individual directions for use. Allergenic extracts for diagnostic use only of coffee, mosquito, cottonseed, and flaxseed have not been shown by adequate data to be safe and effective for therapeutic use.
Patients on beta blockers can be non-responsive to beta agonists that may be required to reverse a systemic reaction (also, see boxed WARNING statement and ADVERSE REACTIONS). The physician should carefully weigh the benefit derived from skin testing vs. the risk to the patient should a systemic reaction arise.
Patients with unstable asthma or steroid dependent asthmatics and patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are at greater risk to a fatal outcome from a systemic allergic reaction2,3. See also PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS.
Severe Allergic Reactions:
Patients should always be observed for at least 20 - 30 minutes after skin testing. In the event of a marked systemic reaction such as urticaria, angioedema, wheezing, dyspnea, respiratory obstruction, hypotension, coma and death (see ADVERSE REACTIONS), applications of a tourniquet above the injection site and administration of 0.2 mL to 1 mL (0.01 mg/kg) of epinephrine injection (1:1,000) are recommended. Maximal recommended dose for children between 2 and 12 years of age is 0.5 mL. The tourniquet is then gradually released at 15-minute intervals. Patients under treatment with beta blockers may be refractory to the usual dose of epinephrine.
Volume expanders and vasopressor agents may be required to reverse hypotension, inhalation bronchodilators and parenteral aminophylline may be required to reverse bronchospasm. In case of respiratory obstruction, oxygen and intubation may be necessary. Life-threatening reactions unresponsive to the above may require cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Anaphylaxis Following False Negative Food Allergen Skin Test Results:
False negative skin test results associated with anaphylaxis from subsequent exposure to the allergen have been reported during postmarketing diagnostic use of some food allergenic extracts. Based on the patient’s clinical history and the index of suspicion, healthcare providers should consider confirming negative skin testing with serologic testing by measuring specific serum IgE or with a medically-supervised oral food challenge.
Patients should be instructed to describe any active allergic symptoms such as rhinitis, wheezing, dyspnea, etc. prior to testing. Also, see ADVERSE REACTIONS and WARNINGS Sections.
Patients should always be observed 20 to 30 minutes after testing.
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with allergenic extracts. It is also not known whether allergenic extracts can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.
Controlled studies of hyposensitization with moderate to high doses of allergenic extracts during conception and all trimesters of pregnancy have failed to demonstrate any risk to the fetus or to the mother4. However, on the basis of histamine’s known ability to contract the uterine muscle, the release of significant amounts of histamine from allergen exposure to skin test overdose should be avoided on theoretical grounds. Therefore, allergenic extracts should be used cautiously in a pregnant woman and only if clearly needed.
Allergenic extracts for diagnostic use have been given safely in infants and young children. Infants have lower skin test reactivity to histamine, as well as common allergens. Skin test reactivity gradually increases to age 6 and plateaus to age 60. Therefore, small skin test reactions should be anticipated in children under age 6.
Skin test reactivity gradually decreases after age 60. Therefore, smaller skin test reactions should be anticipated in adults over age 60.
It is not known if allergens administered subcutaneously appear in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when allergenic extracts are administered to a nursing woman.
Drugs can interfere with the performance of skin tests5.
Antihistamines: Response to mediator (histamine) released by allergens is suppressed by antihistamines. The length of suppression varies and is dependent on individual patient, type of antihistamine and length of time the patient has been on antihistamines. The duration of this suppression may be as little as 24 hours (chlorpheniramine) and can be as long as 40 days (astemizole).
Tricyclic Antidepressants: These exert a potent and sustained decrease of skin reactivity to histamine which may last for a few weeks.
Beta2 Agonists: Oral terbutaline and parenteral ephedrine, in general, have been shown to decrease allergen induced wheal.
Dopamine: Intravenous infusion of dopamine may inhibit skin test responses.
Beta Blocking Agents: Propranolol can significantly increase skin test reactivity.
Other Drugs: Short acting steroids, inhaled beta2 agonists, theophylline and cromolyn do not seem to affect skin test response.
Fatalities from skin testing in the United States have been extensively reviewed by Lockey.2 Six fatalities were associated with intradermal testing without previous percutaneous testing, and one was associated with a combination of percutaneous (scratch) and intradermal skin testing. With careful attention to dosage and administration, fatal reactions occur infrequently, but it must be remembered that allergenic extracts are highly potent to sensitive individuals and overdosage could result in anaphylactic symptoms. Therefore, it is imperative that physicians administering allergenic extracts for skin testing understand, and be prepared for the treatment of severe reactions.
Immediate wheal and erythema reactions are to be expected; but if very large, may be the first manifestation of a systemic reaction. In such cases, immediately wipe the test site(s) with sterile gauze or cotton to remove excess allergen.
Systemic reactions are characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: sneezing, mild to severe generalized urticaria, itching (other than at the skin test site), extensive or generalized edema, wheezing, asthma, dyspnea, cyanosis, hypotension, syncope, and upper airway obstruction. Symptoms may progress to shock and death. Patients should always be observed for at least 20 - 30 minutes after testing.
Volume expanders and vasopressor agents may be required to reverse hypotension. Inhalational bronchodilators and parenteral aminophylline may be required to reverse bronchospasm. Severe airway obstruction unresponsive to bronchodilator may require tracheal intubation and use of oxygen. In the event of a marked systemic reaction, application of a tourniquet above the injection site and the administration of 0.2 mL to 1.0 mL of epinephrine injection (1:1,000) is recommended. Maximum recommended dose for children between 2 and 12 years of age is 0.3 mL. The tourniquet should not be left in place without loosening for 90 seconds every 15 minutes.
Adverse events should be reported via MedWatch (1-800-FDA-1088), Adverse Event Reporting, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
Signs and symptoms of overdose are typically large local and systemic reactions. For management of overdose reactions, refer to the ADVERSE REACTIONS section above.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Skin test techniques for immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity testing fall into two major categories: percutaneous, and intracutaneous.
Percutaneous techniques:
For percutaneous testing, in general, skin is scratched, punctured or pricked just before the allergen is applied or through a drop of test allergen. There are several devices available for this technique. Refer to the manufacturer or distributor’s circular for specific directions for their use.
In General:
For all of the above techniques, a separate instrument must be used for each patient; if the instrument is to be used to pass through the allergen, to avoid cross-contamination, a separate instrument is to be used for each allergen. The test should be read in 15 minutes, measuring both wheal size and erythema.
Intracutaneous (intradermal) testing:
General: Intradermal testing is more sensitive than percutaneous testing and its specificity is dependent on dose. Intradermal testing is not intended as an initial screen unless used in highly dilute solutions. Intradermal testing is usually reserved for allergens that have demonstrated either negative or equivocal percutaneous skin test response in the face of positive or unclear history.
Intradermal testing of one allergen in several serial dilutions (beginning with the weakest to the more concentrated dilutions) may also be useful in assessing degree of patient sensitivity for the establishment of a safe starting dose for immunotherapy.
Bulk extracts must be diluted for intradermal testing. Use of Sterile Diluent for Allergenic Extracts or Sterile Diluent for Allergenic Extracts Normal Saline with HSA (albumin saline) is recommended. Dilutions should be made with sterile disposable syringes using aseptic technique. Commonly 10 fold dilutions are used to achieve a desired concentration for intradermal testing and continuation of immunotherapy. For example, transferring 0.5 mL of a 10,000 PNU/mL extract into 4.5 mL of diluent will yield 5 mL of extract at 1,000 PNU/mL. For weight volume products, a 1:100 w/v dilution may be prepared from a 1:10 w/v by transferring 0.5 mL of the 1:10 w/v to 4.5 mL of diluent. Prepare as many additional serial dilutions as necessary to reach the appropriate concentration. As a general rule intradermal strength should begin at no higher than 1/100 to 1/1000 of the percutaneous strength that resulted in a negative skin test reaction.
Selection of the proper strength for intracutaneous testing: A general rule for the prevention of untoward reactions, particularly in extremely sensitive patients, is to screen by percutaneous methods initially, and begin intradermal testing at a strength not more than 1/100 of a negative or equivocal percutaneous reaction.
Controls:
In both percutaneous and intracutaneous tests, a negative control test with diluent alone should be performed because some patients exhibit dermographia, and/or other non-specific irritant responses.
As a positive control in the evaluation of allergenic skin testing, histamine 1 mg/mL (histamine base) should be used for percutaneous testing, and histamine 0.1 mg/mL (histamine base) should be used for intradermal testing.
Interpretation of results:
Patient’s response is graded on the basis of the size of erythema or wheal.6 General guidelines follow for percutaneous testing, different devices and/or techniques influence the size of the reaction, therefore it is important to refer to the device manufacturer’s or distributor’s instructions when grading reactions.
Percutaneous (prick or scratch) test:
0 No reaction or less than control.
+ Erythema greater than control, smaller than a nickel (21 mm diameter).
++ Erythema greater than a nickel in diameter, no wheal.
+++ Wheal and erythema without pseudopods.
++++ Wheal and erythema with pseudopods.
Intradermal test:
0 No reaction or less than negative control.
+ 3-4 mm wheal with erythema, or erythema alone larger than a nickel (21 mm diameter).
++ 4-8 mm wheal and erythema, without pseudopods.
+++ Over 8 mm wheal and erythema without pseudopods.
++++ Wheal and erythema with pseudopods.
For scratch and prick testing: 5 mL dropper applicator vials in 50% v/v glycerin or 10mL stoppered vial in 50% v/v glycerin. Available individually and in a complete set of the most common allergens. Available in either Protein Nitrogen Units (PNU/mL) or weight to volume (w/v).
For intracutaneous testing: 5 mL sterile vials, aqueous based, individually and in a complete set of the most common allergens. Available in either Protein Nitrogen Units (PNU/mL) or weight to volume (w/v).
Histatrol® Positive skin test control - histamine. 1 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL histamine base.
See Product Catalog for specific diagnostic concentrations available.
To maintain stability of allergenic extracts, proper storage conditions are essential. Bulk concentrates and diluted extracts are to be stored at 2º to 8ºC even during use. Bulk or diluted extracts are not to be frozen. Do not use after the expiration date shown on the vial label.
Revised February 2023 No. 112S
© ALK-Abelló, Inc.
Distributed in Canada by:
ALK-Abelló Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
#35-151 Brunel Road
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4Z 2H6
4 WEED MIX
amaranthus retroflexus pollen, chenopodium album pollen, plantago lanceolata pollen and xanthium strumarium pollen injection, solution |
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9 TREE MIX
acer saccharum pollen, alnus rhombifolia pollen, betula lenta pollen, carya ovata pollen, fraxinus americana pollen, platanus occidentalis pollen, populus alba pollen, quercus alba pollen and ulmus crassifolia pollen injection, solution |
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BIRCH MIX
betula nigra pollen and betula populifolia pollen injection, solution |
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HICKORY/ PECAN MIX
carya illinoinensis pollen and carya ovata pollen injection, solution |
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MAPLE/BOX ELDER
acer negundo pollen and acer saccharum pollen injection, solution |
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MAPLE MIX
acer negundo pollen and acer rubrum pollen injection, solution |
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MIXED COCKROACH
blatella germanica and periplaneta americana injection, solution |
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MIXED FEATHERS
anas platyrhynchos feather, anser anser feather and gallus gallus feather injection, solution |
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MIXED WEEDS
chenopodium album pollen, iva annua pollen, plantago lanceolata pollen and xanthium strumarium var. canadense pollen injection, solution |
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OAK MIX
quercus alba pollen, quercus rubra pollen and quercus virginiana pollen injection, solution |
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SALIX NIGRA POLLEN
willow black injection, solution |
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MOSQUITO
culix pipiens injection, solution |
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DANDELION
taraxacum officinale pollen injection, solution |
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NETTLE
urtica dioica pollen injection, solution |
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SHORT RAGWEED
ambrosia artemisiifolia injection, solution |
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Labeler - ALK-Abello, Inc. (809998847) |