Bronchial provocation tests with RAST-standardized allergens and dosimetric technique.

58 patients with proven allergic asthma (positive prick and RAST) were challenged with allergen extracts dosed in RAST arbitrary units; 14 of them were rechallenged after some months to evaluate the reproducibility of results; 41 underwent also a nonspecific challenge with methacholine. The results of the specific bronchial provocation test were well reproducible, with similar coefficients of variation for both early and late reactions. The specific bronchial provocation test was found to be more related to the allergic status, as reflected by specific IgE levels, than to nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity, as reflected by response to methacholine.