With regards to Allergy Class Changes in version 2.75:
1,015 concepts were deprecated and re-created to separate Component “Antibody.IgE” concepts from Method “RAST” Radioallergosorbent test. We added a new method in the Method attribute “RAST” and updated to a new scale in the Scale attribute “SemiQn.”
I think the intent of these concepts is not to represent a method but rather to represent test results as classes rather than concentration. Classes represent a numeric scale (0-VI) representing specific IgE concentration intervals. They are considered obsolete by many as compared to just reporting concentrations although some labs stil report both. Reporting classes with a method of radioallergosorbent test is not appropriate for 2 reasons:
- I would doubt anyone is still using an RIA to detect and quantify IgE.
- Classes are independent of method. Most if not all labs performing singleplex allergen testing are using some form of IA.
I think just using a scale of semiquantitative and property of PrThr without a method is the correct way to represent these.
Bruce.J.Goldberg, MD, PhD
Physician director, SCPMG Regional Allergy-Immunology Laboratory