Primary and secondary allergies to laboratory animals.

Although laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is a significant occupational hazard among workers exposed to laboratory animals, few studies have evaluated long-term risks to workers who remain in the workplace. This short-term focus has obscured the evaluation of subsequent animal allergies (secondary LAA). We analyzed surveillance data from a 10-year LAA prevention program to estimate incidence rates of primary and secondary LAA and to evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention program in reducing the development of primary LAA.