Advances in methodology for diagnosis of allergic skin disease.

Advantages of IDST for diagnosis of atopy and selection of antigens for hyposensitization include the following: 1. The test is widely accepted by clients. 2. The clinician can select individual test allergens based on the patient history and geographic location. 3. It has been the standard for diagnosing atopy in the dog for more than 40 years. Disadvantages of IDST include the following: 1. The test should be performed on a regular basis to maintain reliability. 2. Interpretation of test results is subjective. 3. The test is not standardized on the basis of the examiner, source of the allergen, or reproducibility. 4. There is occasional difficulty in performing the test (e.g., need for sedation). 5. Anaphylaxis is a potential risk. 6. A significant amount of office time is needed to perform the test. 7. Condition of the patient's skin (e.g., lichenification, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma) may preclude its use. 8. There is a possibility of failure to test for appropriate allergens. 9. There may be false-positive and false-negative reactions. 10. Other medications can interfere with the test (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids). Advantages of in vitro testing for diagnosis of atopy and selecting antigens for hyposensitization include the following.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)