Diagnosis of reaginic allergy with house dust, animal dander and pollen allergens in adult patients. V. A comparison between the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), provocation tests, skin tests and RAST.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing allergen adsorbed onto the internal surface of a plastic tube, and alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-IgE was used for the determination of specific IgE antibodies to various inhalant allergens in serum samples from 255 individuals with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. A total of 541 analyses were carried out and the results were compared with those of provocation tests, skin tests and the RAST. It was found that negative ELISA values with high probability indicated nonallergy and very high ELISA values (class greater than or equal to 5) indicated allergy. However, the proportion of positive ELISA values which did not correspond to clinical allergy was high, as were the number of intermediate, inconclusive values (class 1-2). Although significant correlations between the ELISA values and provocation test, skin test or the RAST were obtained with some allergens, it was concluded that our version of the ELISA has not advantages over currently used methods for allergy diagnosis.