Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Jan;61(1):29-34. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00381.

Comparison of Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test and ImmunoCAP for the Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis

• Kim DY
• Park SY
• Hong SB
• Lee OH
• Choi GC
• Cho JH

• KMID: 2436422
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00381

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Specific IgE assays are important in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Among the diagnostic tests of AR, multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST) and ImmunoCAP have been frequently used as simple, safe, and economical methods. In this study, we compared the diagnostic outcomes of MAST and ImmunoCAP in patients with AR.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Seventy-eight patients (52 men, 26 women, mean age 34.5 years: range 6-80 years), who have nasal symptoms of allergy and no clinical factors to influence the test results, underwent routine skin prick test (SPT) and MAST, and ImmunoCAP for eight major allergens. The diagnosis of AR was based on the criteria of SPT. The class 1 responses or more were regarded as positive for both MAST and ImmunoCAP. The agreements, sensitivities, and specificities of MAST and ImmunoCAP were evaluated along with the correlation between the two tests.
RESULTS
Total agreement rates of MAST and ImmunoCAP amounted to 91.5 and 92.1%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of MAST were 73.4 and 95.3%, respectively, and those of ImmunoCAP were 81.4 and 94.5%, respectively. The correlations between MAST and ImmunoCAP showed statistical significance for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/Dermatophagoides farinae.
CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrated the diagnostic usefulness of both MAST and ImmunoCAP in AR, especially for the most prevalent allergens of house dust mites. Moreover, ImmunoCAP, which showed higher sensitivity than MAST, can be effectively used in rhinology clinics.

Keyword

Allergen; House dust mite; Sensitivity; Skin prick test; Specificity

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Diagnosis*
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Male
Methods
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis, Allergic*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skin
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E