Comparison of two in vitro assays for serum house dust mite - specific IgE with skin testiong in allergic subjects

Oh, Jae Won; Lee, Ha Baik; Jung, Jee Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The skin prick test and in vitro allergen-specific IgE assays are commonly used to diagnose atopic diseases. However, there is still a need for comparison of their diagnostic efficiency. Objective and METHOD: To evaluate their clinical efficiency, the results of UniCAP and multiple antigen simultaneous test (MAST) were compared with skin prick test results. After 51 allergic patients completed skin prick test (SPT), serum sample was collected and UniCAP and MAST were performed to determine specific IgE to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus : Dp and D. farinae. Df). Result : When SPT was used as a reference standard, UniCAP depicted higher sensitivity of 88.8% to Dp IgE and 91.4% to Df - IgE, but lower specificity of 73.3% to Dp IgE and 75.0% to Df - IgE. However, MAST had lower sensitivity of 75.1% to Dp-IgE and 71.4% to Df - IgE, higher specificity of 93.3% to Dp-IgE and 93.7% to Df - IgE. The values of UniCAP and MAST were significantly correlated with the reactivity grade of skin prick test, respectively. Additionally, the response of SPT was not apparently associated with ECP levels.
CONCLUSION
These study results may suggest that both UniCAP and MAST are generally feasible for measuring house dust mite - specific IgE and that they are both replicable.