title: IgE testing in capillary blood.
abstract: Serologic IgE testing is generally performed using serum, obtained by venepuncture. We tested whether paper-absorbed and eluted capillary blood, obtained by a less invasive method (finger prick) could be used for allergy testing in young children. This was performed by comparative IgE testing, using paper-absorbed blood/serum and serum. Practical applicability of the procedure was tested by assaying paper-absorbed and eluted blood, obtained from 640 children with complaints of prolonged coughing, for IgE to airborne allergens. We found that IgE testing, using paper-absorbed/eluted material and serum yields virtually identical results (mean ratio for positive samples: 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-1.75). Blood spot testing revealed that sensitization to inhalant allergens is not uncommon in preschool children (13% positive radioallergosorbent test [RAST] tests), which means that this procedure is a useful method for assaying allergic sensitization in children.
authors.affiliation: Sanquin CLB, Department of Allergy, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. s.stapel@sanquin.nl
authors.forename: Steven O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Stapel
authors.forename: Petra E D
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Eysink
authors.forename: Janny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrieze
authors.forename: Rob C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Aalberse
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D002196:Capillaries; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E