Allergic diagnosis: skin testing and rast.
In a minority of patients with allergic rhinitis, diagnosis of the offending allergens is necessary for control of symptoms. Skin endpoint titration (SET) testing, the most advanced form of skin testing, and the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) are the only two diagnostic tests that give quantitative results upon which to base immunotherapy. Patients who undergo diagnostic testing must understand the commitment involved in a program of immunotherapy. This review hopes to enable clinicians to better understand the techniques of skin testing and RAST and how and when these tests may be of use to their patients suffering from allergic rhinitis.
Thurmond
M
M
Dept of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, USA.
Amedee
R
R
D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D007073:Immunoglobulin E