title: [RAST: a micromethod using whole blood (spot test)].
abstract: The discovery of the role played by IgE immunoglobulins in allergopathies has allowed developing a radioimmunotechnique called RAST, that permits the detection of antireaginic antibodies, present in tiny concentrations in serum and secretions. One factor so far limiting the total use of RAST in the pediatric field, was supplied by the amount of serum required, difficult to obtain especially in the newborn. Reported herein, the Authors show the results obtained by using spot test on whole blood, in which the performance of the RAST requires a few drops of blood. The spot test has the same diagnostic validity (sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility etc.) as RAST performed on serum. The optimal ratio both as to drops of blood and as the ratio between specific and aspecific bound radioactivity, has been obtained by using 7 and 10 mm-diameter disks. Moreover these disks, once they have been dried at room temperature, turned out to be stable for several weeks. The Authors hold that the application of spot test in the pediatric and neonatal fields avoids psychic trauma of blood withdrawal sometimes difficult and allows a deeper insight in the etiological factors of atopic diseases to start a correct therapeutic treatment.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test / Q000379:methods*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E
vernacular_title: RAST: impiego di un micrometodo su sangue intero (spot test).