Reactions in the cytotoxic leucocyte test.

A short summary of the literature about the cytotoxic leucocyte test was presented. The results of 1824 CLTs involving 23 food allergens were analyzed. Of the foods tested malt, orange, rye, milk, corn, tomato, oats, wheat, brewers yeast and rice were the ten foods giving a reaction most often in the CLT. Except for minor differences the foods were the same as earlier reported to cause reactions most frequently. Age was found to influence the results of the CLT as cow milk caused reactions most frequently with children and while malt with adults. In 92.1% of the tests there was at least one reaction which means that the CLT is quite sensitive. Thus the CLT seems to be mainly useful for the screening of foods suspected to cause symptoms before planning elimination and provocation trials for the diagnosis of food allergy.