1999 Volume 42 Issue 4 Pages 391-395
Evidence is growing that patients suffering from cedar pollinosis are increasing. Diagnosis of cedar pollinosis requires identifying the allergen either by skin test or by specific anti-IgE antibody assay. The skin test has drawbacks such as pain, inconvenience of preparing for reactions like anaphylatic shock, and experience because they can see it However it can be diagnosed in a short time and on the cheap. On the other hand, specific anti-IgE antibody assay is expensive and results require a longer time for final diagnosis.
We reevaluated skin tests results in patients having evidence of positive specific anti-IgE antibody against cedar pollen as examined by the Lumiward immunoassay system that is considered a sensitive test. The skin test data coincided with the results of the Lumiward immunoassay in 88.4% of the tests. The positive concordance rate was 95%, and the negative concordance rate was 59.3%.
When skin test was observed over a lapse of time, it was positive in 56.7% of the patients in 5 minutes and in 73.3% in 10 minutes.
Whereas, the scratch test was positive in 76.7% in 5 minutes and 90% in 10 minutes.
The results suggest that the scratch test may be more sensitive than the skin test, but the antigen dose of the diagnostic reagent as well as the stability of the antibody activity remain as topics for future investigation.
