[Experiences with the radioallergosorbent test in house dust allergy and bronchial asthma (author's transl)].

The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) has been used for in vitro diagnosis of asthma. The paper reports about 70 investigations in 40 patients with house dust and mite allergy. In 75 p. c. the test was positive, especially in mite allergy. On the other hand increased total IgE levels only in about 50 p.c. correlated with positive case history and skin test results. After hyposensitization indeed a better correlation was found. --In conclusion RAST seems to be no alternative but a useful completion to the traditional diagnostic methods as skin test and provocations test especially in mite allergy and analogous situations, where provocation test is not usual.