title: Correlation between skin-prick testing, individual specific IgE tests, and a multiallergen IgE assay for allergy detection in patients with chronic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergy test results can differ based on the method used. The most common tests include skin-prick testing (SPT) and in vitro tests to detect allergen-specific IgE. This study was designed to assess allergy test results using SPT, individual specific IgE tests, and a multiallergen IgE assay (multiple allergen simultaneous test) in patients with chronic rhinitis and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty total patients were prospectively enrolled in the study, including 100 patients with chronic rhinitis and 40 control patients without atopy. All eligible patients underwent SPT, serum analysis using individual specific IgE test, and multiple allergen simultaneous test against 10 common allergens. Allergy test results were then compared to identify correlation and interest agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an 81-97% agreement between SPT and individual specific IgE test in allergen detection and an 80-98% agreement between SPT and multiple allergen simultaneous test. Individual specific IgE test and multiple allergen simultaneous test allergy detection prevalence was generally similar to SPT in patients with chronic rhinitis. All control patients had negative SPT (0/40), but low positive results were found with both individual specific IgE test (5-12.5%) and multiple allergen simultaneous test (2.5-7.5%) to some allergens, especially cockroach, Dermatophagoides farina, and ragweed. Agreement and correlation between individual specific IgE test and multiple allergen simultaneous test were good to excellent for a majority of tested allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows good agreement and correlation between SPT with individual specific IgE test and multiple allergen simultaneous test on a majority of the tested allergens for patients with chronic rhinitis. Comparing the two in vitro tests, individual specific IgE test agrees with SPT better than multiple allergen simultaneous test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jin Kook
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Il-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Heung-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E