Clinical Comparison of Skin Testing and the Radioallergosorbent Test in Dog-Sensitive Patients Using Mixed and Breed-Specific Antigens

Abstract

A study of clinical history, intradermal test end points and RAST values with six different dog antigens was made in 20 patients and 5 control subjects. Skin testing was found to be more useful clinically than the RAST. Considerable variability among mixed epidermal extracts was noted. There was no apparent advantage to testing with three individual-breed extracts studied, compared to the most potent mixed epidermal antigen. The results of this study suggest that further efforts toward standardization of potency, methods of preparation and, possibly, breed composition of dog allergenic extracts are required to develop improved allergens for clinical use.

Dog allergy: understanding our 'best friend'?

“…Skin-prick testing should be the initial test method followed by intradermal testing for patients with clinically suspected allergy but who have negative skin-prick testing. This combined technique has been shown to be superior to radioallergoabsorbent tests (RAST) for establishing a diagnosis of dog _ ,allergy [30]. RAST testing should be reserved for those ^*^';.…”

Dog allergy: understanding our ‘best friend’?

“…This combined technique has been shown to be superior to radioallergoabsorbent tests (RAST) for establishing a diagnosis of dog _ ,allergy [30]. Skin-prick testing should be the initial test method followed by intradermal testing for patients with clinically suspected allergy but who have negative skin-prick testing.…”