Classical primary immunodeficiency disease (PID) is relatively rare, but patients with recurrent infections are common, especially in childhood. Efficient identification of PID within the large pool of potential cases is therefore difficult for non-immunologists. However, early detection of PID, before serious infections have compromised the patient’s general condition, is important for prognosis.

This multistep protocol for diagnosing PID starts from the clinical presentation of the patient, which can be recognized by all doctors. Its multi-stage design allows timely identification of potential PID using specific warning signs and simple screening tests in the initial phases of the protocol.

Although many PIDs present in childhood, the most common clinically significant PID, common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), may present at any age. Therefore, the protocol is aimed for both paediatric and adult patients.

This protocol was published in Clin Exp Immunol 2012 Jan;167(1):108-19.

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