In vitro allergy investigation: Does a multiple allergen testing system give useful information?
BACKGROUND
The Hitachi CLA allergy test gives individual results on a wide range of common allergens. This study looked at the effect on patient management of the extra information gleaned from the use of this test compared to the same patient being investigated under a protocol of a total IgE and 4 allergen specific IgE tests using the Pharmacia UNICAP system.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients who presented to our Dermatology Department with possible Type I hypersensitivity: 19 males (10 were <16 years); 36 females (12 were <16 years). Our standard investigative protocol using the Pharmacia UNICAP was applied to all samples; each was also tested using the Hitachi CLA system and the two sets of data compared.


RESULTS
The CLA system identified 22/54 patients in which one or more potentially significant allergens were found that would not have been identified by our current system of total IgE plus 4 allergen specific IgE results. Multiple positive allergens were detected by the CLA system in 13/54 cases. 12/54 patients had no allergen that was positive CLA and the UNICAP. 3/54 had positive results using our Pharmacia-based protocol that were not available by use of the extended panel. 4/54 patients had profiles in which both systems offered differing clinically useful information.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the use of a multiple allergen testing system to identify potentially significant individual allergens, patients in whom a Type I allergic reaction is unlikely or patients with multiple positive results for whom allergen avoidance is unlikely to be effective.
Sinclair
David
D
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. david.sinclair@porthosp.nhs.uk
Saas
Myk
M
Cook
L John
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000592:standards; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000485:Allergens; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007073:Immunoglobulin E