A New Well-Characterized, Purified Allergen Preparation from Timothy Pollen

The following methods were used in vitro to characterize and quantitate the allergenic activity of a purified allergen preparation, Timothy N, from timothy pollen: radioallergosorbent test (RAST), direct-titration RAST and RAST inhibition. Vials containing freeze-dried and standardized quantities of this preparation showed good uniformity and accuracy with regard to the allergenic activity. The stability of the preparation in solution and in the freeze-dried state was tested by RAST inhibition and was found to be acceptable. Using the same method, the allergenic activity of Timothy N was compared to the allergenic activity of a crude extract, Timothy O, indicating a discrepancy which was not observed in vivo.