Abstract: Objective To explore the scientific significance and practical application of serum levels of total IgE(tIgE)and allergen-specific IgE(sIgE)in excluding allergen sensitization. Methods A total of 536 volunteers including 347 males and 189 females, aged 19-60 years with median age of 38 years old received the healthy physical examination were recruited in the study. All the subjects had no history and symptoms of allergic diseases as well as systemic diseases. Serum tIgE was detected by the capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The tIgE level ≤100 kU/L represented negative while >100 kU/L positive. Serum sIgE was assessed by means of the Phadiatop test using the fluoroimmunoassay. The Phadiatop class 0 means negative and class ≥1 positive. Results Serum level of tIgE among healthy adults was 1.14-1 703.70(median 37.18)kU/L, and it was significantly higher in males than in females(P=0.001). The negative and positive rates of serum tIgE were 72.52% and 27.48%, respectively. Serum level of sIgE(Phadiatop)among healthy adults was 0.01-59.50(median 0.05)kU/L, which had no significant significance between the male and the female(P=0.154). The negative and positive rates of Phadiatop were 82.09% and 17.91%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in serum tIgE and sIgE levels among different age groups(P=0.119 and P=0.225, respectively). The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between serum tIgE and sIgE levels was 0.683 with statistical significance(positive correlation, P<0.001). There were 368 subjects(94.85%)with negative Phadiatop and 20 subjects(5.15%)with positive Phadiatop in the serum tIgE negative subjects(n=388), while 75 山东大学耳鼻喉眼学报30卷4期 -袁源,等.健康成人血清总IgE和变应原特异性IgE检测及意义 \=-subjects(51.02%)with positive Phadiatop and 72 subjects(48.98 %)with negative Phadiatop in the serum tIgE positive subjects(n=147). Conclusion More than one fourth subjects among healthy adults have a serum tIgE level higher than 100 kU/L, while less than one fifth subjects have a sensitization to inhaled allergens. There is an obvious correlation between the serum levels of tIgE and sIgE. The serum tIgE level below 100 kU/L may have a clinical value to exclude allergen sensitization; however, the sensitized status may not be confirmed when the tIgE level is higher than 100 kU/L, and case history and clinical manifestations also should be considered.

Key words: Healthy volunteers, Allergens, Adult, Hypersensitivity, Immunoglobulin E