SkinPrickTesting

SkinpricktestingorSPTdemonstratesanallergicresponsetoaspecificallergen. Inconjunctionwithanallergyfocusedhistory,SPTcanhelptoconfirmthe presenceofanallergytoeitherafoodorinhaledsubstance(allergen). SPTisthemostcommonallergytestperformedinanallergyclinicbyspecially trainedstaff.SPTisasimple,safeandquicktest,providingresultswithin1520 minutes.Thiswillenableyoutoreceiveadiagnosisandmanagementplanatyourappointment. Theskinpricktestintroducesatinyamountofallergenintotheskin,elicitingasmall,localisedallergic response,intheformofawheal(bump)andflare(redness)atthesiteoftesting.Thesetestscanbecarried outonallagegroups,includingbabies. SPTisusuallycarriedoutontheinnerforearm,butinsomecircumstancesmaybecarriedouton anotherpartofthebody,suchasbackorthigh.Forexample,thereisalargerareaonthebackorthigh toperformtestingonababy,similarly,forthosewithtroublesomeeczemathetestcanbeperformed onanyclearpatchofskin Thetestallergensareselectedfollowingadiscussionwithyourclinicianandbasedonyourhistory Asfewas3or4oruptoabout25allergenscanbetested Theskiniscodedwithamarkerpentoidentifytheallergenstobetested Adropoftheallergen(extract)solutionisplacedontheskin Theskinisthenprickedthroughthedropusingthetipofalancetthiscanfeelalittlesharpbutshould notbepainfulandshouldnotbleed. Thepatientneedstoavoidtakingantihistaminesandcertainothermedicationsbeforethetest.Longacting antihistamines(thosethatdonotcausedrowsiness)shouldbestoppedforfivedays,shortacting antihistaminescanbestopped48hoursbeforehand.Manycoughmixturescontainanantihistamine, thereforepleasetellthehealthcareprofessionalwhoisperformingthetestanymedicationyouhavetaken. Theresultswillnotbereliableifantihistaminesarestillinthebodywhenthetestisperformedas antihistaminescanpreventthebodyfromreactingtotheSPT.Ifthepatienthasnotstoppedtakinganti histaminesbeforetheirappointmenttheymaynotbeabletohavetheskinpricktest. Twocontrolsamplesareincludedtomakesurethatthetesthasworked;oneofthecontrolswillcausea reactioninallpeople,andtheothershouldnotcauseareactioninanyone.Thishelpsthenursesanddoctors ensurethetesthasbeenconductedproperly.
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Theskinmaybecomeitchywithinafewminutesandbecomeredandswollen withawhealinthecentre(verymuchlikethereactiontoanettlesting).The whealhasaraisededgewhichslowlyexpandstoreachitsmaximumsizeinabout 15minutes,clearingformostpeoplewithinanhour.Dependinguponwhatyou havediscussedwithyourdoctor,thismaybeapositiveresponseandyour doctorwilldiscusstheresultsandwhattheymeanforyou. NoreactiontotheSPT(anegativeresponse)mayindicatethatthepatientisnot sensitivetothatallergen.Negativereactionsmayoccurforotherreasons,for example;ifthepatientistakingantihistaminesormedicationsthatblocktheeffectofhistamine.Whichis whyitisimportanttheresultsareinterpretedbyahealthcareprofessionalexperiencedinallergy.Insome cases,thedoctormayrequestabloodtesttohelpclarifytheresults.
Lastupdated:June2013 Version3 Reviewdate:June2015

AllergyUKPlanwellHouseLEFABusinessParkEdgingtonWay Sidcup Kent DA145BH

AllergyUKistheoperationalnameoftheBritishAllergyFoundation,acharitablecompanylimited byguaranteeandregisteredinEnglandandWales.CharityNo:1094231.CompanyNo:4509293. RegisteredinScotlandCharityNo:SCO39257 2

www.allergyuk.org