Defatting peanut meal with n-hexane gave significantly more Ara h 1 and 2 than with diethyl ether. Buffer type and pH affected extraction yields and detection rates of Ara h 1 and 2 in ELISAs. Extraction yields of crude peanut protein correlated poorly with yields of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2. Western blots of allergens extracted with PBS were more sensitive than those extracted with TBS or Tris. Common extraction buffers could retain allergens in peanut meal; e.g. TBS (pH 8.5) retained Ara h 3.