title: Relationship between skin-prick tests, the multiple allergosorbent test and symptoms of allergic disease.
abstract: In 47 atopic subjects, skin-prick testing to 10 common allergens was performed, and specific IgE to the same allergens was assessed by the multi-allergosorbent chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA). Overall agreement between the tests was 66.4% for conventionally positive skin tests (weal diameter greater than or equal to 3 mm), rising to 78.5% when a positive skin test was defined as having a weal diameter greater than or equal to 5 mm. Agreement between the tests was statistically significant for all allergens except Alternaria. A history was obtained from each subject of the presence or absence of allergic symptoms on exposure to cats, and whether there was a history of grass pollen allergy. MAST-CLA testing for specific IgE to cat dander predicted a history of cat allergy with an efficiency of 74.5%, while a positive MAST-CLA test for Cocksfoot grass predicted a history of grass pollen allergy with an efficiency of 85.1%. Similar results were obtained on skin testing for these allergens. We conclude that MAST-CLA gave results comparable to those obtained by skin-prick testing, and correlated equally well with the history of allergic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Immunopharmacology Group, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Finnerty
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Summerell
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E