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Immediate Hypersensitivity Test
Short Description : Skin Prick Test

Other
Test performed by: LabPLUS VIM Allergy


Please note: Immediate hypersensitivity skin testing requested by GPs and specialists external to ADHB must be referred to Labtests.

Outside hospital/specialist referrals for skin testing should be sent to allergy@adhb.govt.nz

Clinical allergy referrals must go through central referrals.

For ADHB clinicians, skin prick tests to a wide range of aero and food allergen can be performed via the Virology/Immunology laboratory. Please call the Clinical Immunologist (ext 22106) to discuss which tests are appropriate, or laboratory scientist (021326759) to arrange an appointment for your patient. Written referrals may be sent directly to the Virology/Immunology Laboratory or the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic. In this case the patient will be contacted directly to make an appointment.

All queries about appointments for skin prick tests are to be made to 021326759.

All referrals for anaesthetic allergy testing (both local and general) should be sent directly to the Anaesthetic Allergy Clinic, Department of Anaesthesia, Auckland City Hospital.

Available skin test allergens

Grass pollen

Fruit

Grains

Perennial Rye

Avocado

Barley

Timothy

Banana

Oat

Grass mix

Kiwifruit

Rice

Rye

Tree pollen

Fish

Wheat

Acacia

Codfish mix

Birch

Salmon

Nuts

Olive

Sardine

Almond

Tuna

Brazil

Weeds

Cashew

Plantain

Shellfish

Hazelnut

Crab

Macadamia

Moulds

Lobster

Pecan

Alternaria

Mussel

Pistachio

Aspergillus

Oyster

Walnut

Cladosporium

Shrimp

Penicillium

Miscellaneous food

Meat

Egg - whole

Animal

Chicken

Yeast

Cat hair

Beef/Veal

Mustard

Dog hair

Pork

Sesame

Cattle hair

Anisakis

Horse hair

Dairy

Rabbit hair

Cow's milk

Venoms (Prick & Intradermal)

Guinea pig dander

Honey bee

Legumes

Vespula

Miscellaneous inhalent

Peanut

Polistes

D.pteronyssinus

Soybean

D.farinae

Lupin

Penicillin (Prick & Intradermal)

Cockroach

Benzyl penicillin

Latex

Anaesthetic agents (Intradermal)

Penicilloyl polylysine

General anaesthetic drugs

Minor determinants

Local anaesthetic drugs

Amoxycillin

Amoxycillin + Clavulanic acid

Flucloxacillin

Assay Method

The skin test involves the injection of a small amount of a standardised concentrate of allergen into the upper layer of the skin, either by prick or intradermal injection with the usual site being the forearm. This results in the release of mast cell mediators causing a characteristic wheal and flare reaction in the sensitive patient. The size of the wheal is compared to the reaction obtained with a positive and negative control.


Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Skin-prick tests are usually less important than the patient's clinical history in the diagnosis of allergic conditions, but they often provide useful confirmatory evidence of a reaction to suspected allergens. They are simple to carry out and interpret but they do not give absolute evidence of clinically relevant allergy. A patient with asthma, may for example, show positive skin-prick reactions to allergens which do not trigger bronchospasm on direct challenge; or she/he may have a positive challenge test with allergens which give negative skin-prick test results.

References

1. The skin prick test, Jack Pepys. M.D., F.R.C.P., Path., Professor Emeritus ; University of London.

2. ASCIA Skin Prink Testing for diagnosis of allergic diseases, Dr William Smith, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit Protocols, Revised 2006.

DRUGS - antihistamines or with antihistamine activity, which may interfere with SPT.

Generic

Commercial

Availability in NZ

azatidine

Zadine

Tablets and oral mixture

brompheniramine

Dimetapp (some)

Oral mixture with other active ingredients

cetirizine

Zyrtec

Tablets and oral mixture

chlorpheniramine

numerous OTC

Injections Oral cold preparations with other ingredients

cyproheptadine

Periactin

Tablets

desloratadine

dexchlorpheniramine

Claramax

Polaramine

Tablets

Tablets and oral mixture

diphenhydramine

Unisom Sleepgels, other OTC

Capsules

dimenhydrinate

Dramamine, Travacalm

Tablets

doxylamine

numerous OTC

Capsules

fexofenadine

Telfast

Tablets

loratidine

Claratyne,Clarinase

Tablets and oral mixture

mepiramine

Eelaxa-tabs

Cream only

pheniramine

Avil, Fenamine

Eye drops only with other active ingredient

promethazine HCL

Phenergan, other generic

Injections tablets and oral mixture

trimeprazine

Vallergan, other generic

Oral mixture

triprolidine

numerous OTC

Capsules and oral mixture with other active ingredients

H-2 antagonists:

cimetidine

Tablets

ranitidine

Injections Tablets and oral mixture

famotidine

Tablets

Antidepressants:

amitriptyline

Amitrip

Tablets

clomipramine

Clopress

Tablets

dothiepin

Dopress

Tablets and Capsules

doxepin

Anten

Capsules

imipramine

Tofranil

Tablets

mianserin

Tolvon

Tablets

mirtazapin

Axit

Tablets

nortriptyline

Allegron

Tablets

trimipramine

Surmontil

Tablets & capsules

Anti-migraine

pizotifen

Sandomigrane

Tablets

Anti-emetics

prochlorperazine

Stemetil, Stemzine

Injections & tablets

Neuroleptics

Chlorpromazine

Largactil

Injections and tablets

Clozapine

Clopine, Clozaril,

Tablets

Flupenthixol

Fluanxol

Injections

Fluphenazine

Modecate

Injections

Olanzapine

Zyprexa

Injections, Tablets and wafers

Pericyazine

Neulactil

Tablets

Quetiapine

Seroquel

Tablets

Risperidone

Risperdal

Tablets and oral mixture

Thioridazine

Aldazine, Melleril

Tablets

Trifluoperazine

Stelazine

Tablets and oral mixture


Contact Information

Appointment queries

All skin testing appointment queries to 021236759

For further information contact the laboratory (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or:

Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga , Immunopathologist: Locator 93-5724

Or the LabPLUS Immunology Team



Last updated at 11:51:51 10/09/2020