[Comparison of two specific immunoglobulin E test systems in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the AllergyScreen system from Mediwiss An alytic GmbH and the Pharmacia CAP system from Pharmacia Diagnostics for the detection of four inhalant allergens in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
All 35 serum samples were collected from patients who were referred to the allergist for a suspected allergic rhinitis between January to March in 2007. Patients were classified as study diagnosis-positive for inhalant allergy if they both had a positive clinical examination/history and a related positive skin test for the suspected inhalant allergen.


RESULTS
Comparing with the reference standard, the diagnostic indexes (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, predictive value of positive, and predictive value of negative) of the CAP system and the AllergyScreen system were 0.96 vs 0.89, 0.84 vs 0.75, 0.89 vs 0.80, 0.78 vs 0.65 and 0.93 vs 0.93 respectively. The CAP system method had higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than AllergyScreen system method, but there have no statistical difference between two systems (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This data support the use of ImmunoCAP system and AllergyScreen system to identify potentially significant individual allergens in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. The diagnostic indexes between the two systems have no statistical difference. As a simple, rapid turnaround time and low-cost system, AllergyScreen system can test multi-allergens in one time, so it can be used as a complementary with the ImmunoCAP system.
Liu
Chengyao
C
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
Han
Demin
D
Zhang
Luo
L
Zhao
Yan
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051603:Recoverin; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D051603:Recoverin; D007073:Immunoglobulin E