RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Radioallergosorbent test (RAST)—reliable tool or poor substitute?
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 361
OP 366
VO 50
IS 3
A1 Hein, Edward W.
YR 1983
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/50/3/361.abstract
AB An in vitro method, the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) has been developed for the detection of allergen-specific antibodies of the IgE class. Review of the literature shows that in comparison to skin testing, the RAST has a high degree of correlation (60% to 90% depending on the antigen); however, this method is not as sensitive as other tests (50% false-negative). The RAST is affected by blocking antibodies (IgG), resulting in false-negative values and high levels of IgE that bind on the allergen discs, giving falsepositive findings. Because of these problems, RAST is somewhat limited for use in the clinical setting.