To cite this article: Masse MS, Granger Vallée A, Chiriac A, Dhivert-Donnadieu H, Bousquet-Rouanet L, Bousquet P-J, Demoly P. Comparison of five techniques of skin prick tests used routinely in Europe. Allergy 2011; DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02679.x.
Abstract
Background: Skin prick tests represent indispensable tools in allergy, even more than 30 years after their introduction in clinical practice.
Objectives: Few recent European studies have focused on this topic and we thus wanted to compare the instruments most often used today.
Methods: Four instruments were investigated: the 23G intravenous (IV) needle, the ALK Lancet, the Stallergenes (STG) Prick Lancet and the Stallerpoint® (using two different methods). Sensitivity, reproducibility, and acceptability were evaluated. In 22 subjects, we calculated the sensitivity and reproducibility (both intra- and interpatient) of these methods by testing the positive control five times. In 50 subjects, we tested the single-blind acceptability of these same five techniques.
Results: In terms of sensitivity, the IV needle (100%) and metal lancets (96% for the ALK Lancet and 98% for the STG Prick Lancet) were superior (P < 0.01) to the two Stallerpoint® methods (20% and 57%). Intrapatient reproducibility was 16.2%, 14.6%, 15.0%, 97.1% and 18.1%, respectively. The instruments that were best tolerated by the patients were the IV needle and the two metal lancets.
Conclusion: Metal needles and/or lancets are the tools of choice for skin prick testing.
