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Allergen AlertTM  is a new testing device that can help assess the indoor air quality in your home by detecting and identifying the levels of the most common allergens. Click here to learn more about how it works.
- Dust Mite: Dermatophagoides farine, found in most US homes.
- Cat: Pet danders.
- Dog: Pet danders.
- Cockroach: German cockroach, which is very prevalent throughout the US.
| - Mold: Alternaria alternata, a common outdoor mold.
- Mold: Cladosporium herbarum, a common indoor/outdoor mold also found indoors.
- Mold: Penicillium notatum, a common indoor mold.
- Mold: Aspergillus fumigatus, a common indoor/outdoor mold.
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According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, over 40-50 million Americans suffer from allergy. Allergies affect 1 out of 5 people. Allergen Alert gives allergy sufferers a cost effective method for determining the cause of their symptoms in their home. Click here for additional allergy resources.
Each allergen alert kit contains two dust collector traps to check allergen levels in two rooms, a postage paid mail-return box for sending the samples to our laboratory, an instruction booklet, and a video showing just how easy it is to monitor allergen levels.
Three to four weeks after submitting the samples, you receive a comprehensive report for each room tested. The presence of the most common home allergens - dust mite, certain molds, dog, cat and cockroach - are displayed on a colorful, easy-to-read bar graph. The report recommends remedies that make home allergen control a breeze. Click here for pricing information.
Take control of your environment. You will feel better for it because allergies are nothing to sneeze at.
Allergen Alert Test Allergens Explained
Allergen Alert analyzes dust for the level of eight proteins that are produced by organisms living in the environment. These proteins are referred to as "allergens" since they have been shown to cause allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. While there are a number of other allergens in the environment, the eight included in the test are among the most common and provide a reasonable proxy for certain other, related allergens.
Dust Mite Allergen
House dust mites live in bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, curtains, and most other fabric items found around the home. Decaying dust mite bodies and dust mite feces are the most significant sources of dust mite allergen. However, additional sources may include other body secretions. Dust mite allergens are microscopic but compared to other allergens are quite large and therefore tend to settle quickly from the air.
Cat Allergen
Cat allergen can be dispersed widely spread throughout the home and, when disturbed, may remain in the air for several hours at a time due to its small size. Cat allergen is "sticky" and can attach to walls and other surfaces in the home. It also has a tendency to attach to clothing, shoes and other items causing significant amounts of cat allergen to be passively transferred to environments with no cats. Cat allergen comes primarily from the cat's saliva and glandular secretions.
Dog Allergen
Dog allergen can be dispersed throughout the home and, when disturbed, may remain in the air for several hours at a time due to its small size. Dog allergen is "sticky" and can attach to walls and other surfaces in the home. It also has a tendency to attach to clothing, shoes and other items causing significant amounts of dog allergen to be passively transferred to environments with no dogs. Dog allergen comes primarily from the dog's saliva, urine and feces.
Cockroach Allergen
Cockroach allergen tends to be mainly concentrated near food and water sources, such as in the kitchen and bathroom. However, it is not uncommon to detect significant amounts of cockroach allergen in bedrooms and elsewhere. Homes without live cockroaches may still contain detectable levels of cockroach allergen. Body parts, egg casings, and digestive secretions are the significant sources of cockroach allergen. Cockroach allergens settle quickly from the air but tend to remain in the home for long periods of time even after the cockroach population has been exterminated.
Mold Allergen
The molds analyzed in the dust sample are four of the most common types found indoors, but numerous other species of mold may be detectable. Certain molds may produce toxins, known as mycotoxins. While exposure to mold by sensitive individuals may cause allergic symptoms and trigger asthma, exposure to mycotoxins may present with different symptoms. If you are experiencing health problems believed to be related to molds, consult a physician.
Molds can be found both indoors and outdoors. Molds produce mold spores and mycelium, which comprise the majority of mold allergen in the environment. These mold spores become airborne and may infiltrate a house from outdoors. As a result, a home with no detectable mold growth may contain significant allergen levels. Additionally, even after moldy areas have been cleaned mold allergen may remain elevated. Indoor mold growth typically occurs in damp areas, such as basements or showers. Flooding, leaking and condensation among other items may lead to mold infestation.
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