title: The use and interpretation of RAST to stinging insect venoms.
abstract: Quality controlled, standardized RAST systems for five stinging insect venoms are described. These systems were evaluated using 375 sera from insect reactive patients from six diverse geographic regions. Ninety-four percent of patients with recent histories of systemic allergic reactions to stings were positive to at least one venom while 4 percent of normal local reactors were positive. The cross reactions between honey bee and vespid venoms were studied by RAST inhibition. A quantitative method for interpretation of venom RAST is presented to account for cross-reactivities and the approach to diagnosis is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology*; D011786:Quality Control; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D014863:Wasps
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E