Serological screening for allergy to inhalants by multi-allergen-radioimmunoassay.

201 children with inhalant allergy were examined with a new serological screening test ("Multi-Allergen-Test"). The sensitivity (95.1%) and specificity (91.9%) of the test were determined by comparing it to a "clinical classification", including results of history, physical examination, skin test and investigation for specific IgE antibodies. This yielded a diagnostic efficiency of 93.5%. A subsequent comparison of these results with the classification of patients by age-related total IgE levels showed the superiority of the "Multi-Allergen-Test" as far as screening for inhalant allergies is concerned. Additionally, the results for the specificity of the test were reproduced by examining another 18 children with food allergy, who had elevated total IgE levels but no inhalant allergic symptoms. The "Multi-Allergen-Test" proved to be a suitable screening procedure for inhalant allergy.