BACKGROUND: Previous comparisons of devices for percutaneous skin testing have revealed statistically and clinically significant differences, from one device to another, in the size of reactions to histamine and allergen extracts and at negative control sites. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the performance of several skin test devices which are either new, modified, or used with a modified technique. METHODS: Twenty subjects were tested five to eight times with each of the devices both to glycerol-saline and to 10 mg/ml histamine base. The devices tested were the MultiTest II, Duo Tip-Test (prick and scarification), Quintest, DermaPik (prick and scarification), and small pox needle. RESULTS: There were highly significant differences among the devices for the size of the reaction to histamine (mean wheal diameter 4.28 to 8.59 mm, p < 0.0001), the standard errors of the wheals to histamine (0.82 to 1.45 mm, p < 0.05) and in the mean wheal size with glycerol-saline (0.00 to 2.48 mm, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Devices for performing skin prick testing vary greatly in several characteristics, including the size of reactions at both positive and negative test sites. Each skin test technician should be tested with the device used in that skin testing laboratory to establish criteria for positive and negative tests.
BACKGROUND: Previous comparisons of devices for percutaneous skin testing have revealed statistically and clinically significant differences, from one device to another, in the size of reactions to histamine and allergen extracts and at negative control sites. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the performance of several skin test devices which are either new, modified, or used with a modified technique. METHODS: Twenty subjects were tested five to eight times with each of the devices both to glycerol-saline and to 10 mg/ml histamine base. The devices tested were the MultiTest II, Duo Tip-Test (prick and scarification), Quintest, DermaPik (prick and scarification), and small pox needle. RESULTS: There were highly significant differences among the devices for the size of the reaction to histamine (mean wheal diameter 4.28 to 8.59 mm, p < 0.0001), the standard errors of the wheals to histamine (0.82 to 1.45 mm, p < 0.05) and in the mean wheal size with glycerol-saline (0.00 to 2.48 mm, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Devices for performing skin prick testing vary greatly in several characteristics, including the size of reactions at both positive and negative test sites. Each skin test technician should be tested with the device used in that skin testing laboratory to establish criteria for positive and negative tests.
Authors: Sarah K Wise; Sandra Y Lin; Elina Toskala; Richard R Orlandi; Cezmi A Akdis; Jeremiah A Alt; Antoine Azar; Fuad M Baroody; Claus Bachert; G Walter Canonica; Thomas Chacko; Cemal Cingi; Giorgio Ciprandi; Jacquelynne Corey; Linda S Cox; Peter Socrates Creticos; Adnan Custovic; Cecelia Damask; Adam DeConde; John M DelGaudio; Charles S Ebert; Jean Anderson Eloy; Carrie E Flanagan; Wytske J Fokkens; Christine Franzese; Jan Gosepath; Ashleigh Halderman; Robert G Hamilton; Hans Jürgen Hoffman; Jens M Hohlfeld; Steven M Houser; Peter H Hwang; Cristoforo Incorvaia; Deborah Jarvis; Ayesha N Khalid; Maritta Kilpeläinen; Todd T Kingdom; Helene Krouse; Desiree Larenas-Linnemann; Adrienne M Laury; Stella E Lee; Joshua M Levy; Amber U Luong; Bradley F Marple; Edward D McCoul; K Christopher McMains; Erik Melén; James W Mims; Gianna Moscato; Joaquim Mullol; Harold S Nelson; Monica Patadia; Ruby Pawankar; Oliver Pfaar; Michael P Platt; William Reisacher; Carmen Rondón; Luke Rudmik; Matthew Ryan; Joaquin Sastre; Rodney J Schlosser; Russell A Settipane; Hemant P Sharma; Aziz Sheikh; Timothy L Smith; Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn; Jody R Tversky; Maria C Veling; De Yun Wang; Marit Westman; Magnus Wickman; Mark Zacharek Journal: Int Forum Allergy Rhinol Date: 2018-02 Impact factor: 3.858
Authors: Ellen F Crain; Michelle Walter; George T O'Connor; Herman Mitchell; Rebecca S Gruchalla; Meyer Kattan; George S Malindzak; Paul Enright; Richard Evans; Wayne Morgan; James W Stout Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Michael J Epton; George I Town; Tristram Ingham; Kristin Wickens; David Fishwick; Julian Crane Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-02-28 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Hjalte H Andersen; Anna Charlotte Lundgaard; Anne S Petersen; Lise E Hauberg; Neha Sharma; Sofie D Hansen; Jesper Elberling; Lars Arendt-Nielsen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-05-23 Impact factor: 3.240