Screening system 'A' is the most commonly used allergen-specific IgE detecting system in Korea. With high sensitivity and low specificity, it has been used as a screening system. However, the correlation rates with ImmunoCAP® System or skin prick test are relatively lower in food allergens than inhalant allergens.
Purpose
To validate the new allergen-specific IgE detecting system, 'B', in comparison with 'A' and ImmunoCAP® System.
Methods
We evaluated 101 Korean atopic dermatitis (AD) patients’ results from 'A' and newly developed 'B'. We also compared the correlation coefficient with ImmunoCAP-test, the gold-standard diagnostic tool for extrinsic AD.
Results
When we compared the correlation coefficient between 'A' and ImmunoCAP-test of 5 antigens including D.farinae, D.pteronyssinus, soyben, cow milk and white egg, results of cow milk, D.farinae, D.pteronyssinus antigens were significantly matched. Moderate strength of agreement was found in egg white and fair agreement was observed in wheat. However, only D.farinae and D.pteronyssinusresults from 'B' showed significant agreement strength with CAP-test and other 4 antigens only had slight agreements.
Conclusion
Overall, more accurate results were observed with a new screening system 'B' when compared with 'A'. Further study will be performed to analyze the results from other antigens.