Evaluation of materials used for bedding encasement: Effect of pore size in blocking cat and dust mite allergen

Diagrammatic representation of a modified Fussnecker dust trap showing placement of fabric, location of flow meter and pressure gauges, and direction of airflow.

Scanning electron microscope pictures of 4 woven fabrics: laboratory control (A) , 50-μm fabric (B) , 10-μm fabric (C) , and 2-μm fabric (D) (see Table I for details).

Allergen recovered from filter after testing fine woven fabrics with 1.0 g of dust containing 510 μg/g Fel d 1, 5.5 μg/g Der f 1, 3.7 μg/g Der p, 1 or 26.9 μg/g concentrated Der p 1. The amounts of allergen recovered from the 6-μm and 2-μm fabrics reflect the lower limit of the assay. The control was a used cotton sheet (laboratory control).