ALLERGENIC EXTRACTS,

FOR DIAGNOSTIC USE ONLY

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Port Washington, NY 11050

U.S. Government License No. 1256

DESCRIPTION

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.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

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).

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

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.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

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.

WARNINGS

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.

PRECAUTIONS

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS:

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.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

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.

OVERDOSAGE

Signs and symptoms of overdose are typically large local and systemic reactions. For management of overdose reactions, refer to the ADVERSE REACTIONS section above.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

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:

1. It is recommended that the test areas should be placed no closer than 4 - 5 cm apart to avoid interference of reactions when several tests are applied.
   
2. Skin test areas should be cleansed with alcohol and air dried.
   
3. Preferably, the allergen should be placed on the volar surface of the forearm, upper arm, or the patient’s back. The patient should be placed in a comfortable position prior to testing.
   
4. For scratch testing, a sharp, clean, sterile instrument is used to abrade the skin, but not to draw blood. Each scratch should be about 2 - 4 mm in length. A small drop of extract is placed on the surface of the skin.
   
5. Prick testing: For prick testing, a sharp, sterile instrument is used to puncture the skin slightly, applying it at a 15 - 20° angle to the skin. The instrument is gently raised, “tenting” the skin until it pops out, generally pricking through the drop of allergen. Do not draw blood.
   
6. For puncture testing, a sharp, clean, sterile instrument must be used. Puncture the skin, through the drop of allergen, perpendicular to the skin. Do not draw blood.

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.

1. It is recommended that the test areas should be spaced no less than 5 cm apart to avoid interference with adjacent allergen or control.
   
2. Skin should be cleansed with alcohol and air dried.
   
3. A sterile 1 mL or 1/2 mL syringe with a 26 - 30 gauge needle should be used. A separate sterile syringe should be used for each extract and each patient.
   
4. Care should be taken to eliminate air bubbles from the syringe prior to injecting the test dose. It is suggested that not more than 6 - 10 allergens of each different type be used at any one time. Very sensitive patients may show rapid response.
   
5. The skin is held tensely, and the needle is inserted almost parallel to the skin, beveled side up far enough to cover the beveled portion. Slowly inject sufficient extract to make a small bleb of approximately 5 mm in diameter (0.01 - 0.02 mL).
   
6. Read the test results in 15 minutes.

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.

HOW SUPPLIED

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.

STORAGE

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.

REFERENCES

1. Holgate, S.T., Robinson, C. and Church, M.K. Mediators of immediate hypersensitivity. In Middleton et al: Allergy Principles and Practice, St. Louis, 1988, C.V. Mosby, p 135.
   
2. Lockey, R.F., et al. Fatalities from immunotherapy (IT) and skin testing (ST). J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 1987: 79: 660.
   
3. Reid, M.J. et al. Survey of fatalities from skin testing and immunotherapy. 1985-1989. J. Allergy Clin Immunol. 1993; 92:6.
   
4. DeBuske L. M. et al. Special problems regarding Allergen Immunotherapy in Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, Greenburger, P.A. Ed. February 1992; 145-149.
   
5. Bousquet, J. In vivo methods for the study of allergy: skin test, techniques and interpretation. In: Middleton et al.: Allergy Principles and Practice 3rd Ed. St. Louis: CV Mosby, 1988:167.
   
6. Freedman, S.O. Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis II. Clinical Aspects, in Freedman and Gold Clinical Immunology 2nd Ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1976: 131.

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

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL

ALLERGENIC EXTRACT
DIN 00299987
5mL sterile multiple dose vial
FOR PERCUTANEOUS TESTING ONLY