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allergen
(alŽәr-jen)
a substance, protein or nonprotein, capable of inducing allergy or specific hypersensitivity.
a purified protein, most often of a food (such as milk, eggs, or wheat), a bacterium, or pollen, used to test a patient for
hypersensitivity to specific substances (see skin test). Allergens may also be used to desensitize or hyposensitize allergic individuals as a type of immunotherapy. adj., allergenŽic., adj.

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