Abstract: Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of serum total immunoglobin E(IgE)test in respiratory allergies.Methods 475 patients registered to department of respirology or allergy clinic in the hospital were evaluated for serum total IgE.The level of specific IgE(SIgE)to common inhalant allergens was also detected.Results The TIgE values in these allergic patients were associated with a non-normal distribution pattern.Compared with young and older adult groups,0～14 years-old group showed higher TIgE level with markedly statistical significance(P=0.001).Within the normal reference range(<1.3 KU/L),38% of the subjects were found to be clinically symptomatic,and some of them concurrently demonstrated mite-specific IgE positive.The level of SIgE increased with higher TIgE.Conclusion Serum TIgE test may not be effective to eliminate the involvement of allergies to common inhalant allergens in symptomatic patients,whereas higher TIgE level may be linked to higher risk of allergies.Normal reference value of TIgE originated from normal populations should not be extrapolated to identify individuals with positive or negative results from allergic test due to a wide range of overlapping between the two.