Blending skin endpoint titration and in vitro methods in clinical practice.

The definitive diagnosis of allergy involves proving the presence of allergen-specific IgE. This had traditionally been done by skin testing, the most precise method being skin endpoint titration. In vitro diagnostic methods offer advantages over skin tests and have become increasingly popular with both patients and physicians. However, thorough knowledge of skin testing techniques and interpretation of results is necessary for the physician using in vitro test methods and also allows moving back and forth between the two modalities in the preparation of antigen treatment sets and adjustment of immunotherapy dosage.