title: Laboratory tests for total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E.
abstract: The principles of measurement of IgE by enzyme-immunoassay are given. A Bayesian approach is taken for the clinical interpretation of serum total IgE. Application of Bayes' Theorem to serum total IgE can significantly influence the probability of a clinical diagnosis of allergy. There is a correlation between allergen-specific IgE measured by enzyme-immunoassay, by radioallergosorbent test and by skin tests for immediate hypersensitivity. However, there is a need to standardize the reagents used for allergy skin testing, as well as the reagents and methods used for the laboratory measurement of allergen-specific IgE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Brown University-Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Weltman
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E