What are the essential roles of allergen standards in allergen analysis, and what specific requirements must they fulfill?

Allergen standards play an essential role in allergen analysis by serving as high-purity reference materials that ensure accuracy and consistency in detecting and quantifying allergens. This is crucial for developing reliable diagnostic tests, ensuring food safety, and researching allergic reactions. To be effective, allergen standards must fulfill specific requirements, including well-defined physicochemical and immunological properties. These criteria ensure that the standards accurately represent the allergens found in various substances, allowing for precise and reproducible results in allergen detection and analysis.