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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE)
Published on: April 21, 2019
A Novel Veterinary Molecular Multiplex Microarray Serological Allergen Test (Pet Allergy Xplorer; Nextmune) Versus
David Birchler1, Michaela Austel1, Frane Banovic1
1Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Background:
The first veterinary multiplex molecular microarray serum allergy test (SAT), Pet Allergy Xplorer, is commercially available. However, no comparative evaluations of this test versus whole extract-based SAT (eSAT) platforms and intradermal allergen testing (IDAT) currently exist.
Hypothesis/Objectives:
Evaluate agreement between IDAT, conventional eSAT (Stallergenes Greer Laboratories) and extract and recombinant-containing SAT (erSAT) for shared environmental allergens in atopic dogs.
Animals:
Fifty-four dogs with non-seasonal (with or without seasonal exacerbation) and five dogs with seasonal atopic dermatitis were enrolled.
Materials And Methods:
IDAT, eSAT and erSAT were performed on the same day. Two independent investigators (Inv A and Inv B) recorded IDAT results. Per manufacturer guidance, 80 and 300 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) absorbance units (eSAT80 and eSAT300) and 28 ng/mL (erSAT) were used as SAT cut-off values. Cohen's kappa (κ) and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used to test agreement.
Results:
Between IDAT investigators, there was almost perfect agreement across all allergens (κ = 0.81; PABAK = 0.87). Moderate agreement (κ = 0.58) between erSAT and eSAT300 across all allergens improved to almost perfect with PABAK (0.84). IDAT Inv A had the strongest agreement with eSAT300 (κ = 0.44, PABAK = 0.75) compared to erSAT (κ = 0.29, PABAK = 0.64) and eSAT80 (κ = 0.13, PABAK = 0.11); results were similar with Inv B.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
Agreement between testing platforms varied depending on the kappa statistic used, with low κ agreement for most comparisons, highlighting disagreements on what was considered positive. PABAK was generally higher, showcasing high overall concordance. Agreement to the new erSAT was strongest with eSAT300; agreement was moderate (κ) to almost perfect (PABAK).
