title: Unproven diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
abstract: Over the years, there have been many procedures that either have no diagnostic value for any allergic disease or are inappropriate for the diagnosis and treatment of allergy. These procedures fall into the category of unproven diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for allergy. Unfortunately, there are a very limited number of well-controlled investigations examining these various methods. While these tests may provide a superficial appearance of valid test, they have not been shown by controlled clinical trials to be reliable in the diagnosis and treatment of any allergic diseases. After reviewing the data, it is very clear that there is a need for more well-controlled scientific investigations examining all of these techniques. Until that data becomes available for scientific review and critique, these unproven diagnostic and therapeutic techniques should not be used in the evaluation of patients with suspected allergic disease.
authors.affiliation: Colorado Allergy and Asthma Centers, PC, 1136 East Stuart Street, Suite 3200, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA. jamesftco@earthlink.net
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G