ABSTRACT
Clinical and Laboratory Skin tests can be used to verify a history of sting allergy. Radioallergosorbent (RAST) testing is less sensitive but does not carry a risk of anaphylaxis during the testing. It is important to note that neither the size of a skin test reaction nor the RAST level is a reliable predictor of the severity of subsequent sting reactions.1 In vitro methods of testing also include Western blot and in vitro basophil activation tests that measure histamine and sulphidoleukotrien released (CAST-Cellular Antigen Stimulation Test) or activation markers on the cell surface detected by means of ow cytometric analysis (Flow CAST).2,3 Basophil activation tests using either CD63 or CD203c show promise in the in vitro diagnosis of patients with bee or wasp venom allergy.4
