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MAST allergy (161-allergen)

GC Labs code	F506	Test Field	Immunology
Compulsory forms

GC Labs code

F506

Test Field

Immunology

Compulsory forms

Information

Test method	Line immunoassay (Immunoblot)
Specimen (mL)	S 0.5
Specimen storage	Refrigerated
Specimen stability	Refrigerated (7 days), Frozen (28 days)
Test schedule	Mon-Sat
Analytical time (day)	1

Test method

Line immunoassay (Immunoblot)

Specimen (mL)

S 0.5

Specimen storage

Refrigerated

Specimen stability

Refrigerated (7 days), Frozen (28 days)

Test schedule

Mon-Sat

Analytical time (day)

Reference range/Unit	[Serum] See comments in the report
Clinical Significance	This test measures total IgE and simultaneously detects 160 respiratory and food allergens that are commonly found in Koreans, totaling 161 items. Similar to ImmunoCAP, results are reported in classes 0 to 6. However, while ImmunoCAP is a quantitative test for individual allergens (indicating the class to which each quantitative value belongs), the MAST test is a semi-quantitative test, in which the results are determined based on the intensity of the color band. The MAST test has the advantage of allowing simultaneous testing for multiple allergens, but its sensitivity and specificity are lower compared to ImmunoCAP. It is also prone to cross-reactivity between nearby allergens or allergens of the same type (e.g., citrus fruits, shellfish, fungi). In particular, total IgE results from the MAST test show low correlation with those from ImmunoCAP and other quantitative tests, so caution is required in interpretation. If the MAST test shows positive results, or if the clinical findings (e.g., patient history) do not match the MAST test results, confirmation using ImmunoCAP is recommended.
Remark

Reference range/Unit

 [Serum]
See comments in the report

Clinical Significance

This test measures total IgE and simultaneously detects 160 respiratory and food allergens that are commonly found in Koreans, totaling 161 items.

Similar to ImmunoCAP, results are reported in classes 0 to 6. However, while ImmunoCAP is a quantitative test for individual allergens (indicating the class to which each quantitative value belongs), the MAST test is a semi-quantitative test, in which the results are determined based on the intensity of the color band.

The MAST test has the advantage of allowing simultaneous testing for multiple allergens, but its sensitivity and specificity are lower compared to ImmunoCAP. It is also prone to cross-reactivity between nearby allergens or allergens of the same type (e.g., citrus fruits, shellfish, fungi).

In particular, total IgE results from the MAST test show low correlation with those from ImmunoCAP and other quantitative tests, so caution is required in interpretation.

If the MAST test shows positive results, or if the clinical findings (e.g., patient history) do not match the MAST test results, confirmation using ImmunoCAP is recommended.

Remark