Rapid diagnostic method for distinguishing allergies and infections and nasal secretion collection unit

A method for differentiating between allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract viral infection and bacterial sinusitis, which comprises measuring a sample of a patient's nasal secretion for pH, protein concentration, nitrite concentration, leukocyte esterase activity, and eosinophil counts or TAME esterase activity or both, such that a scoring system is developed through a combination of:

• (a) a pH between about 7.5 and 9, a moderately strong presence of protein, nitrite or leukocyte esterase, and low or absent eosinophil counts or TAME esterase activity is indicative of bacterial sinusitis without an allergic condition;
• (b) a pH between about 5 and 7, little or no protein, little or no nitrite, little or no leukocyte esterase activity, and moderate to significant TAME esterase activity or moderate to high eosinophil counts is indicative of allergic rhinitis;
• and
• (c) a pH between about 5 and 7, little or no protein, low concentration or a trace of nitrite or a trace of leukocyte esterase or both and low or absent eosinophil counts or low or absent TAME esterase activity indicates an upper respiratory tract viral infection;
• wherein said method comprises deposition by a patient of a nasal secretion sample within a collection apparatus adapted for receipt of said sample for concurrent or subsequent contact with reagents indicative of the pH, protein, nitrite, leukocyte esterase, eosinophil or TAME esterase concentrations.