Correlation of the modified scratch test with the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) in atopic children.

The usefulness of the modified scratch test in predicting clinical allergy and its correlation with the RAST were studied in 83 atopic children. A total of 423 scratch tests were compared with the same number of RAST. Percentage agreements between the two tests for individual allergens ranged from 87.5% (milk) to 50% (cat epithelium). The RAST showed more positive results only for the house dust allergen. Both RAST and scratch tests were not indicative of clinical allergy in the skin and gastrointestinal tract. It was concluded that the modified scratch test may give useful information and remain as one of the routine investigative procedures in pediatric allergy.