152 Australian Dental Journal 2002;47:2. Abstract Background: Latex allergy has emerged as an impor- tant cause of allergic reactions particularly in health workers. Due to the lack of a standardized extract for objective skin testing a screening questionnaire was developed. Methods: At the 1995 Australian Dental Association Conference, all attendees were invited to complete a questionnaire and undergo skin testing to assess the level of latex allergy in this population and to assess the performance of the questionnaire as a screening test for latex allergy. Results: The questionnaire had high specificity but poor sensitivity compared to skin testing with latex extract. Conclusion: This study compares at risk individuals identified by a screening questionnaire with those identified by objective skin testing. A questionnaire designed to screen for latex allergy was reliable for identifying those with low risk while overestimating those at risk of true latex allergy, demonstrating the need for objective testing with reliable allergens. Key words: Latex allergy, dentists, questionnaire, skin tests. (Accepted for publication 12 August 2001.) dentists in the United States of America have shown rates around 14 to 16 per cent. 3 A previous questionnaire survey of dental personnel in Australia revealed a prevalence of 9 per cent. 4 Other studies have utilized skin testing as a tool for investigating latex allergy. Turjanmaa 1 used latex skin prick tests and “use” tests to survey a hospital population in Finland where 15/512 (2.9 per cent) doctors and nurses were shown to be latex allergic. Lagier et al. 2 surveyed 268 operating room nurses in public hospitals in Marseilles, France. Symptoms associated with glove wearing were reported in 41 per cent of nurses, while 10.7 per cent had a positive skin test to a natural latex solution. In another study, Bubak et al. 5 skin tested 49 subjects who were employees of the Mayo Medical Center and who were referred for assessment because of a historical suspicion of latex hypersensitivity. They were skin tested with a number of glove extracts. Almost all the subjects had a history of atopy; 34/49 were positive on skin testing. Results with washed glove patches were positive less often than those with unwashed patches because the allergen content is diminished by washing. The purpose of this study was to compare questionnaire based criteria for immediate type latex hypersensitivity with an objective measure based on skin testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample The survey was conducted during the Australian Dental Association (ADA) Congress held in Hobart, Tasmania in March 1995. The ADA is the major representative body for dentistry in the country and attracts a large number of dental personnel to its congresses. Approximately 1000 individuals registered for this particular congress which included dentists and accompanying persons. The authors were allocated a central space in the main assembly area adjacent to the Australian Dental Industry exhibition and amenities. Participants who passed through this space were readily approached and given the opportunity to be *Department of Immunology and Allergy, Westmead Hospital, Sydney. †Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Westmead Hospital Dental Clinical School, Sydney. ‡Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of Sydney. §Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE Australian Dental Journal 2002;47:(2):152-155 INTRODUCTION In recent years, latex allergy has emerged as an important cause of allergic reactions, particularly in health care workers. The manifestations of latex allergy include dermatological and respiratory symptoms and, in its most severe form, anaphylaxis. Dental personnel have a very high exposure to latex gloves as they may be gloved eight to 10 hours each working day. Reported rates of latex allergy among health care workers vary from 3 to 10 per cent. 1,2 Surveys of Screening for latex allergy with a questionnaire: Comparison with latex skin testing in a group of dental professionals CH Katelaris,* RP Widmer,† RM Lazarus,‡ B Baldo§