[Suggestions for allergological diagnostics in outpatients' departments for lung diseases and tuberculosis (author's...

In increasing number of patients suffering from bronchial asthma are being examined by outpatients' departments for lung diseases and tuberculosis. The early confirmation of an allergic genesis is of main importance for therapy and prophylaxis. Primary allergological diagnostics in outpatients' departments are therefore desirable with special emphasis on allergological anamnesis, intracutaneous allergen tests respectively prick tests. Sufficient experience of the physician especially in the evaluation of results and consecutive measures is necessary. It is recommended to confine cutaneous testing to the usual antigens of airways allergy after careful elucidation of anamnesis. Testing with professional allergens and with allergens leading to strong reactions should be restrained to certain clinical centres. In addition to the recommendations of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Immunology of GDR for allergological and clinical immunological diagnostics the presented publication gives some hints to practical handling and to the evaluation of results.