Weltman J K
Division of Allergy, Brown University-Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.
N Engl Reg Allergy Proc. 1988 Mar-Apr;9(2):129-33. doi: 10.2500/108854188778994986.
The principles of measurement of IgE by enzyme-immunoassay are given. A Bayesian approach is taken for the clinical interpretation of serum total IgE. Application of Bayes' Theorem to serum total IgE can significantly influence the probability of a clinical diagnosis of allergy. There is a correlation between allergen-specific IgE measured by enzyme-immunoassay, by radioallergosorbent test and by skin tests for immediate hypersensitivity. However, there is a need to standardize the reagents used for allergy skin testing, as well as the reagents and methods used for the laboratory measurement of allergen-specific IgE.
