Cooler months see people spending more time indoors and turning up the heating system. But heating units can stir up dust that has settled in carpets, air vents, and other areas throughout the house, triggering allergies. In fact, allergens play a key role in respiratory attacks, and identifying and removing these microorganisms is key to keeping a healthier home. Pure Air Control Services, a specialist company in indoor air quality, has now developed a simple and safe tool to help people maintain good indoor air quality.

The Pure Air Control Services technology enables the identification and quantification of allergen levels indoors, thus helping people manage health issues. Studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) show that people who monitor indoor air quality, by using at-home allergen test kits, are more likely to participate in allergen reduction interventions.

“By understanding the nature of the allergens in the home, families can actively seek to reduce asthma and allergy triggers and improve symptoms year-round,” said Dr. Rajiv Sahay, director of Laboratory Services at Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab), at Pure Air Control Services.

There is a set of allergen test kits available online that — for a given fee — allows users to test for allergens levels by taking a sample from a surface and mailing it to the lab. Once in the lab, the sample will be analyzed using state-of-the-art equipment and the results send back to homeowners.

Homeowners aware of what allergens are in their home might better understand what they need to do to diminish their prevalence. Sometimes the only measures required are more frequent cleaning of open spaces. For example, regular dusting ensures that allergens are not accumulating, and maintaining roughly 60% humidity inside also helps reducing the risk of these allergens becoming a respiratory problem. This new technology raises new habits in families and represents a step further in the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Said Dr. Sahay, “Ensuring that these (air conditioning) units are functioning properly and regularly changing air filters can greatly minimize the allergens in the area which is serviced by the associated A/C unit.”

Allergens are part of an antigen family that can trigger an abnormal immune response. Allergens may include mold, pollen, dust mites, fiberglass, and skin cells, and their presence in people’s homes is related with the prevalence of allergies and respiratory diseases like asthma.