Skin test responses to latex in an allergy and asthma clinic

Latex allergy has been well described in high-risk groups, such as health care workers. Although most patients with latex sensitivity are atopic, only one report of skin testing with a glove eluate in a North American allergy clinic population and only one report assessing serum IgE antibodies in such a population have been published. Glove eluates can vary widely in their latex allergen content, and assessment of serum IgE antibodies is less sensitive than skin prick testing. Therefore we undertook to assess in an allergy and asthma practice, the prevalence of positive skin test responses to a commercially available ammoniated raw latex solution (Bencard, Mississuaga, Ontario, Canada), which has recently been shown to have a sensitivity of approximately 90% and a specificity of almost 100% for latex allergy.