Alatop: A New In Vitro Screening Test for Atopy

Abstract

The value of a new in vitro multiallergen IgE antibody test in the diagnosis of atopy in children was compared with that of skin-prick tests and total serum IgE level determination. Twenty children with clinical histories and symptoms of asthma, median age 5 years, and 20 healthy children, median age 5.5 years, were enrolled. Total serum IgE levels were evaluated as either normal or high by referring to kit values. Specific IgE antibodies to 12 different inhalant allergens were screened by the Alatop test. The accuracy figures for the tests compared with clinical diagnosis were 65.0%, 72.5% and 80.0%, for the total serum IgE determination, the Alatop test and the skin-prick test, respectively, and the other measures of clinical reliability showed a similar pattern. Although the skin-prick tests were the most sensitive and specific of the three, for screening atopic disease in children, the Alatop test provides a valuable alternative, and the combined use of skin-prick tests with the Alatop test will provide a more reliable screen than using any single test.