Prospective analysis of epicutaneous testing for inhalant allergy: comparison of arm and back subsites with mRAST.
OBJECTIVE
1) To compare epicutaneous testing (ET) from four skin subsites (forearm, upper arm, upper back, lower back) and 2) to compare ET to modified RAST (mRAST) for inhalant allergens.


METHODS
Prospective clinical trial.


METHODS
Fifty one patients underwent ET at four skin subsites and mRAST to six antigens and positive and negative controls.


RESULTS
The forearm and upper back showed best sensitivity to positive controls and all subsites demonstrated similar specificity to negative controls. The forearm and upper back demonstrated best sensitivity and specificity for most antigens. No statistically significant differences were noted for antigen sensitivity and specificity for the four subsites. ET and mRAST agreed best on D. farinae and timothy grass and least on short ragweed and dog epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that forearm and upper back demonstrate very good sensitivity and specificity for positive and negative controls and most tested antigens. This has important diagnostic implications for clinical practice of inhalant allergy.
Batra
Pete S
PS
Section of Nasal and Sinus Disorders, Head and Neck Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. batrap@ccf.org
Yappel-Sinkko
Kathy
K
Bena
James
J
Leong
Jern-Lin
JL
Citardi
Martin J
MJ
Lanza
Donald C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D031164:Ambrosia / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001132:Arm; D001415:Back; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*
D000485:Allergens