Carpet properties that affect the retention of cat allergen

Although the importance of carpeting on airborne levels of cat allergen (Fel d 1) has been demonstrated, no studies have been performed to determine specific properties of carpet that may affect its retention and removal.

This study characterizes factors that affect the retention of cat allergen on tufted carpets. The experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that the amount of allergen-containing dust recovered from vacuum samples of tufted carpet sources was dependent on micro (fiber) or macro (construction) retention properties of carpets.

Twenty-six types of custom manufactured carpet were spiked and embedded with reference dust containing Fel d 1. A standardized vacuum surface sampler was used to recover dust from the samples. Allergen was assayed using a standard, monoclonal antibody ELISA.

Carpet-surface area and fluorocarbon-fiber treatments were found to have the largest effects on retention and recovery of cat allergen. The style per se of a carpet, such as loop or cut pile, does not affect allergen retention. These results are generally in agreement with previous studies on dust mite allergen retention.

Carpets that are easiest to clean would have the following properties for release of cat allergen and in this order: low pile density and height, fluorocarbon coating of fibers, high denier per filament, and a fiber shape with a low surface area.