Evaluating the response of patients undergoing both allergy skin testing and in vitro allergy testing with the...

To evaluate the response of patients who underwent both skin and in vitro allergy testing, both of which are accepted methods.

Retrospective review of the case notes of 100 patients evaluated by both testing methods for allergic disease.

A total of 62 patients (62%) tested positive to at least one of the tested allergens via the in vitro method. A total of 65 patients (65%) tested positive to at least one allergen via the skin-testing method. The most frequently elicited allergic response from the in vitro method was to white oak. Indoor mold and dust most frequently elicited response via skin testing.

Both in vitro and in vivo allergy testing have limitations. Practitioners should be aware of these when establishing a treatment plan based on the results of differing allergy testing methods. Due to differing responses to skin and in vitro testing methods, it may be prudent to perform both tests to obtain a definitive diagnosis for the allergic patient.