ABSTRACT
Allergy is a serious health problem throughout the world, affecting people of all ages. Allergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are becoming epidemic in all countries. The cost of investigating these diseases is increasing and becoming very expensive. There are many ways to explore allergenic antibodies to assess the presence and the amount of specific IgE. These are: Skin test [Prick], Specific IgE [ELISA], RAST Sp. IgE and Elimination Challenge methods. Skin test produces pain, local or anaphylactic reaction and patient discomfort. Other procedures are expensive to the patient. So, a modified procedure, based on the same principle of previous tests, was studied in Allergy and Immunology laboratory of Ain Shams University. The procedure has suitable cost for all patients; it is very simple, accurate, cheap and does not produce any problems for patients. It depends on ELISA technique and measures the quantitative amount of the following different allergens: Food and Drug allergens such as, Milk, Eggs, Banana, Maize, Fish, Chocolate, Wheat, Nuts, Strawberry, Shrimps, Spices and Aspirin as a drug allergen. Inhalants, as House dust, Mite, Mixed Pollens, Mixed Moulds, Hay dust, Wool, Latex and Cat Hair. The results of this test for 150 allergic patients were compared with those of national specific IgE kits [ELISA], Sp.IgE [RAST], Skin test and elimination challenge test. Statistical results of sensitivity showed respectively: 88.9%, 89.6%, 91.2%, 71.4%, 93.1%. As regards specificity, the results were 93.1%, 94.7%, 95.3%, 65.5%, 91.6%, respectively. These results conclude that the test is in line with all other standard tests. It can also be noted that it is not only the cheapest and most commercial technique using the immediately available, locally prepared reagents, plates and other requirements found in any standard laboratory, but, additionally, probably it can be unique in using foods, drug and inhalants allergens at the same time. Now, it is applied successfully in Allergy and Immunology unit in Ain Shams university hospitals in Egypt. The test has also been recently introduced at the Center for Advanced Bio Medical Research and Innovation [CABRI] at the Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE, using a commercial system from Phadia. About two hundred different IgE levels against specific antigens are tested using the Immunocap 100. The allergen of interest, covalently linked to the Immunocap is incubated with the serum being tested. The unbound IgE is washed away and the bound specific IgE is detected using a fluorescent reader. The concentration is calculated using a calibration curve