Summary

In an analysis of 322 patients with probable non-seasonal rhinitis, 90 were discovered to have clinically proven allergy to the house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae. The total correspondence between the skin test and RAST amounts to 64.8%, between the skin test and intranasal provocation test 60.5%, and between RAST and INT 68%. When one considers the positive results from the case history, the skin test, the RAST and the INT on the 90 ascertained allergic cases, one can say the following concerning the efficiency of these four allergological testing methods as they apply to the house dust mite D. farinae. Approximately 30% of those patients with an indicative case history and ca. 60% of those with a positive skin test are allergic. In these cases the RAST is in 50% and the intranasal provocation test is positive in 74%. The third diagnostic method to be carried out after that of the case history and intracutaneous skin test, should be the intranasal provocation test. The RAST should follow a negative provocation test.