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Original article: Assessing skin prick tests reliability in ECRHS‐I
Author(s) -
Bousquet P.J.,
Chatzi L.,
Jarvis D.,
Burney P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01581.x
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , medicine , dermatology , reliability engineering , engineering , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Atopy, the clinical definition of an immunoglobulin E (IgE) high‐responder, can be documented either by the detection of IgE antibodies in serum or by a positive skin prick test. Epidemiological studies use different reaction sizes to define a skin test reaction as positive or negative. The aim of the study was to identify the best cut‐off level for skin prick tests. Method: Using the data collected during the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECHRS I) the association of serum allergen‐specific IgE and skin prick tests [ Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), cat, timothy grass and Cladosporium ] were assessed. Results: The proportion of the 11 355 subjects (49.9% men), with positive skin tests ranged from 10.4% (cut‐off >5 mm) to 20.9% (cut‐off >0 mm) for Der p, 3.5–10.2% for cat, 9.3–16.6% for timothy grass and 0.2 and 2.3% for Cladosporium . For identifying subjects with detectable specific IgE (>0.35 kU/l) the most appropriate cut‐off appeared to be over 0 mm for Der p, cat and timothy grass (Youden Index over 0.81). However, the relationship between serum IgE and skin prick test for Cladosporium was weak (Youden index under 0.56). Conclusion: In epidemiological studies, a single method may be chosen to assess allergenic sensitivity. A cut‐off level of over 0 mm for skin prick tests was best at identifying those with allergen‐specific IgE.