A SURVEY OF THE CURRENT USE AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF BRONCHOPROVOCATIONAL CHALLENGES

The purpose of this study was to survey the current techniques and methods of analysis in bronchoprovocational challenges currently in use. A questionnaire was sent to 94 investigators who had recently published an article in which a bronchoprovocational technique was used. They were asked to answer questions regarding the techniques used in challenge procedures and to calculate the results of ten histamine challenges which had previously been performed in our laboratory. Forty-four responded; 32 of these gave specific results for the histamine challenge. The most common provocative agent utilized was methacholine (62 percent), and that most used delivery mode was a dosimeter for delivery (55 percent). The most common provocative agent utilized was methacholine (62 percent) and the most used delivery mode was a dosimeter (55 percent).