[Normal values of total serum IgE in children from birth to 16 years of age].

Total serum IgE values were measured by solid phase radio-immunoassay in 250 normal children, 129 females and 121 males, whose ages ranged from birth to 16 years. IgE is not present in cord blood in contrast to the high maternal values but thereafter levels increase in a linear manner (y = 2.28 + 5.43 x, n = 250, r = 0.57, alpha less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between the sexes, both for the group as a whole as well as within age groups. There was no circadian variation. The distribution of the values in the age groups was log Gaussian and therefore the upper limit of normal should be defined as the 95% confidence intervals calculated from the log Gaussian distribution.