Methods for aeroallergen sampling

Abstract

Air sampling provides information about the bioaerosol composition of the atmosphere. Principal methods of volumetric sample collection include impaction, impingement, and filtration. Many instruments have been developed based on these collection methods. The most widely used devices are slit impactors, rotating arm impactors, and sieve impactors. Samples can be analyzed by various methods, with microscopy and culturing the most important approaches; however, immunoassays, molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction, and other new techniques are becoming more widely used to analyze samples.