Clinical utility of immunological methods based on the singleplex and multiplex ImmunoCap systems for diagnosis of shrimp allergy

Background Levels of specific IgE (sIgE) against allergen components can be assessed using multiplex assays or with highly sensitive, quantitative methods. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of different immunological methods for diagnosis of shrimp allergy. Methods Twenty patients with positive skin prick tests for frozen tiger shrimp were selected for further examination. Blood samples were taken to assess concentrations of sIgE against the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, shrimp allergen extract, allergen components Der p 1, Der p 2 and Pan a 1 (ImmunoCap), and the ImmunoCap ISAC 112 panel. Results All patients had elevated levels of sIgE against shrimp and D pteronyssinus. Eight patients were sensitized to Pen m 1, three patients were sensitized to Pen m 2, and two patients were sensitized to Pen m 4 (ISAC). ImmunoCap ISAC detected shrimp sensitization in 50% of patients. There was a strong correlation between concentrations of sIgE against Pen m1 and Der p 10 detected by ImmunoCap. Conclusions The singleplex ImmunoCap system remains the reference diagnostic method, but in the case of shrimp allergy ImmunoCap ISAC provided better insight into patient allergen profiles.