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Table 3 Sensitivity and specificity for all allergens estimated up against the three reference standards in five different concentrations

From: Sensitivity and specificity of standardised allergen extracts in skin prick test for diagnoses of IgE-mediated respiratory allergies

Allergen

Reference standard

Concentration of skin prick test solution (SU/mL)

5555 (%)

15,666 (%)

50,000 (%)

150,000 (%)

450,000 (%)

Grass pollen

Case history

Sensitivity

72.6

79.3

84.8

87.3

89.0

  

Specificity

59.3

53.3

54.7

54.7

50.7

 

Previous SPT

Sensitivity

75.9

82.1

87.6

89.3

90.7

  

Specificity

87.5

80.2

85.4

84.4

78.1

 

Specific IgE

Sensitivity

82.8

89.3

93.5

95.0

95.0

  

Specificity

87.2

80.8

80.8

79.2

71.2

House dust mite

Case history

Sensitivity

62.1

73.5

75.0

81.8

90.9

  

Specificity

72.9

66.7

62.4

59.6

52.9

 

Previous SPT

Sensitivity

61.0

70.9

74.4

79.4

85.2

  

Specificity

91.1

86.1

83.5

80.4

70.3

 

Specific IjE

Sensitivity

71.7

82.9

85.0

88.8

92.5

  

Specificity

91.5

86.5

82.0

77.5

66.5

Birch pollen

Case (Hilary

Sensitivity

71.4

79.8

83.6

85.9

85.9

  

Specificity

60.3

52.9

51.7

45.4

48.3

 

Previous SPT

Sensitivity

73.8

83.3

85.8

88.7

89.5

  

Specificity

85.7

80.0

77.1

69.5

76.2

 

Specific IgE

Sensitivity

80.6

90.9

94.8

95.2

96.4

  

Specificity

86.7

83.0

83.0

71.9

77.8

Mugwort pollen

Case history

Sensitivity

28.9

43.0

50.0

57.9

66.7

  

Specificity

85.7

80.2

75.5

72.5

60.1

 

Previous SPT

Sensitivity

29.7

42.2

49.0

53.1

63.0

  

Specificity

93.2

89.5

84.7

81.1

68.4

 

Specific IgE

Sensitivity

38.2

55.0

60.3

67.2

85.5

  

Specificity

91.4

87.9

82.4

79.3

71.5