[Evaluation of the monocyte test for diagnosis of allergic asthma bronchiale (author's transl)].

We investigated, if in routine work the relative simple monocyte test can improve the diagnostic yield of allergic asthma bronchiale in comparison with the inhalative allergen test. In 600 patients differential counts in peripheral blood were performed before, 30, and 60 minutes after inhalation of the allergen and the increase of monocytes was evaluated. Monocyte test and inhalative allergen test proved to be concordant in 67%, this value was statistically significant, but control trials failed in 11%. Therefore, the monocyte test fails to be of diagnostic value in allergic asthma, it does not increase additionally the diagnostic yield as a routine method.