[Diagnostic reliability of the CLA test and RAST in IgE-mediated allergy compared with anamnesis and the prick test]

The principle and mode of conduction of a non-isotope method, the DHS-CLA-allergy test, for in vitro diagnosis of allergic disease is described. The method has been tested and found easy to carry out without special laboratory facilities. Thirty-nine patients all of whom were suspected of allergy were tested for nine typical allergens with the prick test, Al-RAST (ALK) and the DHS-CLA-allergy test. Definite allergy was defined on the basis of definite history of allergy and the positive prick test and, from this, the nosological sensitivity was calculated. No history of allergy and negative prick test results were defined as no allergy, and the nosological specificity was calculated from this. The nosological sensitivity for all nine allergens: Al-RAST: 46.8%, DHS-CLA: 85.5%. Nosological specificity for all nine allergens: Al-RAST: 85.7%, DHS-CLA: 80.3%. The results for the individual allergens are apparent from the text.