Allergic Rhinitis-Current Approaches to Skin and In Vitro Testing

This article discusses the currently available techniques used for the diagnosis of IgE-mediated upper respiratory allergy. These methods are necessary to confirm the presence and the intensity of allergy in an effort to select patients for immunotherapy and to dose immunotherapy properly. Specific techniques discussed include epicutaneous and intradermal skin tests and in vitro tests designed to measure antigen-specific IgE antibody.