Allergy screening with extract-based skin prick tests demonstrates higher sensitivity over in vitro molecular allergy testing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As extract-based skin testing as well as in vitro tests for major allergens have their own advantages, both procedures are usually performed in routine settings. In times of shortages in medical staff and supplies, we asked ourselves, how many patients would be underdiagnosed, if only one test could be used.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis, we investigated a cohort of 2646 patients seen by a single physician in a large Austrian outpatient allergy clinic in 2018. Only patients with an allergen source-specific history and pairs of extract-based skin prick (SPT) and in vitro molecular allergy tests to major allergens were included.

Results

For all tested allergen sources, sensitivity was higher for SPT than for sIgE-based molecular allergy testing. Concern

SUBMITTER: Gureczny T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9899493 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature