Comparison of skin tests and RAST in the diagnosis of atopic hypersensitivity

Prick, intracutaneous tests and the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were performed with 12 common allergens in 50 consecutive patients who required skin testing during an allergy investigation. Results of prick test and RAST showed agreement in 82.7% of tests but positive prick tests were much commoner than positive RAST tests. When intracutaneous tests were required to obtain a positive skin test, agreement between skin test and RAST fell to 66.5%.